Touch panel system and electronic device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a touch panel system capable of reliably removing a wide variety of noises. The touch panel system ( 1   p ) includes a subtracting section ( 41   a ) which receives output signals from the sense lines ( 33 ) and finds differences between the capacitances in a direction in which each of drive lines ( 35 ) extends, as the differences in signal between the respective pairs of the sense lines ( 33 ) adjacent to each other. The subtracting section ( 41   a ) obtains a difference signal value between the sense lines adjacent to each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a touch panel system and an electronicdevice including the touch panel system. Particularly, the presentinvention relates to a touch panel system and an electronic device eachof which is capable of reliably and effectively removing (canceling) anoise generated by a display device, etc.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, introduction of touch panel systems to various kinds ofelectronic devices has been growing rapidly. For example, the touchpanel systems are introduced to portable information devices such assmartphones and automatic vending machines such as automatic ticketmachines.

The touch panel system is typically configured to include (i) a displaydevice and (ii) a touch panel stacked on an upper side (front surface)of the display device. Therefore, a sensor provided on the touch panelis likely to be affected not only by a noise such as a clock generatedin the display device but also by other noises coming from the outside.Such the noises lead to impairment in detection sensitivity for a touchoperation.

Patent Literature 1 describes a touch panel system (coordinates inputdevice) including a countermeasure against such noises. The touch panelsystem of Patent Literature 1 includes a noise processing section forremoving a noise. FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a noiseprocessing section 100 included in the touch panel system of PatentLiterature 1. As shown in FIG. 19, the noise processing section 100includes a filter section 101, a logical inversion section 102, and anadding section 103. The filter section 101 receives an output signal(analog signal) from a sensor provided in a touch panel (notillustrated). The filter section 101 extracts, as a noise signal, an ACsignal component included in the input signal. The logical inversionsection 102 inverts by 180 degrees the phase of the noise signal thusextracted. The adding section 103 adds, to the input signal which issupplied to the filter section 101 and which includes the noise signal,the noise signal whose phase has been inverted by 180 degrees.

Thus, according to the touch panel system of Patent Literature 1, thenoise signal extracted by the filter section 101 is inverted, and thesignal thus inverted is added to the input signal (analog signal)supplied from the sensor. Namely, to the noise component included in theinput signal supplied from the sensor, such a signal is added which hasthe same level as the noise component and whose phase has been inverted.This cancels the noise superimposed on the input signal supplied fromthe sensor. This makes it possible to reduce effects given by the noiseincluded in the input signal supplied from the sensor.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   PTL 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication, Tokukai, No.    2001-125744 A (Publication Date: May 11, 2001)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, the touch panel system of Patent Literature 1 has a problem ofbeing incapable of removing noises other than an AC signal component.

Specifically, as described above, with respect to an input signalsupplied from the sensor, the touch panel system of Patent Literature 1regards as a noise an AC signal component included in the input signal.The filter section 101 extracts the AC signal, and thereafter thelogical inversion section 102 inverts the phase of the AC signal by 180degrees. Further, the adding section 103 adds the inverted signal to theinput signal which includes the AC signal component. Thus, for the noiseprocessing according to Patent Literature 1, the process performed bythe filter section 101 for extracting the AC signal component is themost important.

However, Patent Literature 1 fails to disclose details of theconfiguration of the filter section 101. Therefore, it is unknown howmuch noise the touch panel system of Patent Literature 1 can remove.Furthermore, Patent Literature 1 regards as a noise an AC signalcomponent included in an analog signal. Namely, the touch panel systemof Patent Literature 1 basically assumes removal of an impulse noiseonly, and does not assume, as the subject of removal, noises other thanthe impulse noise. Therefore, the touch panel system of PatentLiterature 1 cannot reliably cancel a wide variety of noises other thanthe impulse noise.

The present invention was made in view of the foregoing problem of theconventional technique, and an object of the present invention is toprovide a touch panel system and an electronic device each of which iscapable of reliably removing a wide variety of noises.

Solution to Problem

In order to attain the above object, a touch panel system of the presentinvention includes, a touch panel; and a touch panel controller forprocessing a signal supplied from the touch panel, the touch panelincluding a sensor section, the sensor section being provided with aplurality of sense lines and detecting a touch operation performed withrespect to the touch panel, the touch panel controller including asubtracting section for (i) receiving signals from the sensor sectionand (ii) finding differences in signal between, among the sense lines,respective pairs of sense lines adjacent to each other, the touch panelsystem further including: drive lines provided so as to intersect thesense lines; a drive line driving circuit for driving the drive lines inparallel; and capacitances being formed between the sense lines and thedrive lines, the subtracting section receiving output signals from thesense lines, and finding differences between the capacitances on each ofthe drive lines in a direction in which the each of the drive linesextends, the differences being found as the differences in signalbetween the respective pairs of the sense lines adjacent to each other,the touch panel system further including: a decoding section fordecoding the values of the differences between the capacitances, whichdifferences are found by the subtracting section, the decoding beingcarried out in such a manner that an inner product of each of codesequences for driving the drive lines in parallel and each of differenceoutput sequences of the sense lines, which difference output sequencescorrespond to the code sequences, is calculated, and the subtractingsection finding a first difference which is expressed by (Sn−1)−Sn and asecond difference which is expressed by (Sn+1)−Sn, the first differencecorresponding to a difference between (i) a signal of a sense line Snwhich is selected from the plurality of sense lines and (ii) a signal ofa sense line Sn−1, which is one of two sense lines adjacent to the senseline Sn, the two sense lines being the sense line Sn−1 and a sense lineSn+1 each of which is included in the plurality of sense lines, thesecond difference corresponding to a difference between (i) the signalof the sense line Sn and (ii) a signal of the sense line Sn+1, which isthe other one of the two sense lines.

According to the above configuration, the subtracting section obtains adifference signal value between sense lines adjacent to each other.Namely, a difference is found between the adjacent sense lines, whichhave a higher correlation in terms of noise. This removes the noisecomponents from the output signal supplied from the main sensor section,thereby extracting the signal derived from the touch operation itself.This makes it possible to reliably remove (cancel) a wide variety ofnoises reflected in the touch panel.

Further, according to the above configuration, the touch panel isparallel driven, and the decoding section decodes the values of thedifferences between the capacitances which values are found by thesubtracting section. Consequently, signals of the capacitances aremultiplied by a code length (i.e., multiplied by N). Therefore, signalstrengths of the capacitances are increased, regardless of the number ofdrive lines. Further, provided that necessary signal strengths aremerely equal to those of the conventional driving method, it is possibleto reduce the number of times that the drive lines should be driven.This makes it possible to reduce electric power consumption.

In order to attain the above object, an electronic device of the presentinvention includes the touch panel system of the present invention.

It is therefore possible to provide an electronic device which makes itpossible to reliably remove (cancel) a wide variety of noises reflectedin the touch panel.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, the touch panel system of the present invention isarranged such that the subtracting section finds a first differencewhich is expressed by (Sn−1)−Sn and a second difference which isexpressed by (Sn+1)−Sn, the first difference corresponding to adifference between (i) a signal of a sense line Sn which is selectedfrom the plurality of sense lines and (ii) a signal of a sense lineSn−1, which is one of two sense lines adjacent to the sense line Sn, thetwo sense lines being the sense line Sn−1 and a sense line Sn+1 each ofwhich is included in the plurality of sense lines, the second differencecorresponding to a difference between (i) the signal of the sense lineSn and (ii) a signal of the sense line Sn+1, which is the other one ofthe two sense lines. Namely, a difference is found between the adjacentsense lines, which have a higher correlation in terms of noise. Thisremoves the noise components from the output signal supplied from themain sensor section, thereby extracting the signal derived from thetouch operation itself. This makes it possible to reliably remove(cancel) a wide variety of noises reflected in the touch panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a basic process of the touch panelsystem shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating waveforms of respective signals which areto be processed by a subtracting section in the touch panel system shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view schematically illustrating a touch panel which isincluded in another version of the touch panel system shown in FIG. 4and does not include a sub sensor group.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a basic process of the touch panelsystem shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a basic process of the touch panelsystem shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a driving method of a touch panel whichdriving method is employed in a conventional touch panel system.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a driving method (orthogonal sequencedriving method) of a touch panel which driving method is employed in atouch panel system of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a process which needs to be performed bythe touch panel employing the driving method of FIG. 9 in order toachieve sensitivity equivalent to that of the touch panel employing thedriving method of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view schematically illustrating another touch panel systemaccording to the present invention, said another touch panel systemincluding a touch panel driven by the orthogonal sequence drivingmethod.

FIG. 13 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram showing one example of a total differentialamplifier included in the touch panel system shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a noise processing sectionprovided in a touch panel system of Patent Literature 1.

FIG. 20 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart illustrating a basic process of the touch panelsystem shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart illustrating a basic process of a judgingsection in the touch panel system shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 28 is a view schematically illustrating a method of recognizingtouch information in the flow chart shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of amobile phone including the touch panel system.

FIG. 30 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration ofanother touch panel system according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following will describe embodiments of the present invention withreference to drawings.

Embodiment 1

(1) Configuration of Touch Panel System 1

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. The touch panel system 1 includes a display device 2, a touchpanel 3, a touch panel controller 4, and a drive line driving circuit 5.Further, the touch panel system 1 has a noise canceling function. In thedescriptions below, a side used by a user is referred to as a frontsurface (or an upper side).

The display device 2 includes a display screen (display section), whichis not illustrated in FIG. 1. The display screen displays, e.g., variouskinds of icons for operation and text information corresponding tooperation instructions for the user. The display device 2 is made of,e.g., a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic EL display,or a field emission display (FED). These displays are used in manygenerally-used electronic devices. Therefore, making the display device2 of such the display provides a touch panel system 1 having a greatversatility. The display device 2 may have any configuration, and is notlimited to any particular configuration.

The touch panel 3 is configured to allow the user to perform a touch(press) operation on a surface of the touch panel 3 by his/her finger, astylus, or the like so as to enter various kinds of operationinstructions. The touch panel 3 is stacked on a front surface (upperside) of the display device 2 so as to cover the display screen.

The touch panel 3 includes two sensors (one main sensor 31 and one subsensor 32) which are provided on (in) the same surface. The main sensor31 and the sub sensor 32 are provided so as to be adjacent to eachother. Each of the main sensor 31 and the sub sensor 32 is a capacitivetype sensor. The touch panel 3, which is provided with the capacitivetype sensors, has an advantage of having high transmittance and havingdurability.

The main sensor (main sensor section) 31 is provided in a region(touched region) of the touch panel 3 in which region a touch operationis performed. The main sensor 31 detects a touch operation that the userperforms with respect to the touch panel 3. The touch operation is, forexample, double-click, sliding, single-click, or dragging. The mainsensor 31 is provided with a sense line 33 which is made of a linearelectrode. The sense line 33 has an end which is connected with thetouch panel controller 4. With this, a signal detected by the mainsensor 31 is outputted to the touch panel controller 4 via the senseline 33. Namely, a signal corresponding to a touch operation detected bythe main sensor 31 is outputted to the touch panel controller 4.

The sub sensor (sub sensor section) 32 detects a noise componentreflected in the touch panel 3. The sub sensor 32 is provided in aregion (non-touched region) of the touch panel 3 in which region notouch operation is performed. Therefore, the sub sensor 32 is nottouched by the user in a touch operation, and the sub sensor 32 detectsvarious kinds of noises generated in the touch panel system 1. Thus,unlike the main sensor 31, the sub sensor 32 does not detect a signalcorresponding to a touch operation. Namely, the sub sensor 32 isconfigured not to be touched by the user in a touch operation and todetect a noise generated in the touch panel 3.

The sub sensor 32 is provided with a sub sense line 34 which is made ofa linear electrode. The sub sense line 34 is provided so as to extend inparallel with the sense line 33 (i.e., to extend along a direction inwhich the sense line 33 extends). The sub sense line 34 has an end whichis connected with the touch panel controller 4. With this, a signaldetected by the sub sensor 32 is outputted to the touch panel controller4 via the sub sense line 34.

Meanwhile, the touch panel 3 includes a drive line 35 provided so as tointersect the sense line 33 and the sub sense line 34 at right angles.The drive line 35 is made of a linear electrode. A capacitance is formedin an intersection of the sense line 33 or the sub sense line 34 and thedrive line 35. Namely, a capacitance is formed in an intersection of thesense line 33 and the drive line 35, and another capacitance is formedin an intersection of the sub sense line 34 and the drive line 35. Thedrive line 35 is connected with the drive line driving circuit (sensordriving section) 5. Upon activation of the touch panel system 1, thedrive line 35 is supplied with an electric potential at a certaininterval.

Each of the sense line 33, the sub sense line 34, and the drive line 35can be made of, e.g., a transparent wire material such as ITO (IndiumTin Oxide). In other words, each of the sense line 33, the sub senseline 34, and the drive line 35 is a sensor electrode in the touch panel3.

Note that the drive line 35 is provided on a transparent substrate or atransparent film (not illustrated). Further, the drive line 35 iscovered with an insulative layer (not illustrated). On the insulativelayer, the sense line 33 and the sub sense line 34 are provided. Thus,the sense line 33 or the sub sense line 34 and the drive line 35 areisolated from each other via the insulative layer, and the sense line 33or the sub sense line 34 and the drive line 35 are coupled to each othervia the capacitance. The sense line 33 and the sub sense line 34 arecovered with a protective layer (not illustrated). Namely, in the touchpanel 3, the protective layer is positioned so as to be the closest tothe front surface side (the user's side).

The touch panel controller 4 reads signals (data) supplied from the mainsensor 31 and the sub sensor 32 of the touch panel 3. Since the touchpanel system 1 includes the capacitive type sensors, the touch panelcontroller 4 detects a capacitance generated in the touch panel 3.Concretely, the touch panel controller 4 detects (i) a change in thecapacitance between the sense line 33 and the drive line 35 and (ii) achange in the capacitance between the sub sense line 34 and the driveline 35. The touch panel controller 4 includes a subtracting section 41,a coordinates detecting section 42, and a CPU 43.

The subtracting section 41 includes (i) an input terminal (i.e., aninput terminal for a main sensor output) for receiving a signaloutputted by the main sensor 31 and (ii) an input terminal (i.e., aninput terminal for a sub sensor output) for receiving a signal outputtedby the sub sensor 32. The subtracting section 41 subtracts (i) thesignal supplied to the input terminal for the sub sensor output from(ii) the signal supplied to the input terminal for the main sensoroutput. The signal obtained as a result of the subtracting operation bythe subtracting section 41 is outputted to the coordinates detectingsection 42. Note that the signal supplied to the subtracting section 41may be either of a digital signal and an analog signal. Namely, theinput signal supplied to the subtracting section 41 may be any signal,as long as it suits with the configuration of the subtracting section41.

According to the signal obtained as a result of the subtractingoperation by the subtracting section 41, the coordinates detectingsection 42 detects information indicative of the presence or absence ofa touch operation. For example, if a value of the output signal suppliedfrom the subtracting section 41 is equal to or greater than apredetermined threshold value, the coordinates detecting section 42outputs, to the CPU 43, a signal indicative of the presence of a touchoperation. Note that the touch panel system 1 includes a single mainsensor 31; therefore, the coordinates detecting section 42 detectsinformation indicative of the presence or absence of a touch operation.Meanwhile, if a touch panel system 1 is configured to include aplurality of main sensors 31, a coordinates detecting section 42determines, in addition to the presence or absence of a touch operation,coordinates values indicative of a position touched by the user.

The CPU 43 obtains, at a certain interval, information outputted by thecoordinates detecting section 42. Further, according to the informationthus obtained, the CPU 43 performs an operation such as output of theinformation to the display device 2.

The drive line driving circuit 5 is connected with the drive line 35.Upon activation of the touch panel system 1, the drive line drivingcircuit 5 applies an electric potential to the drive line 35 at acertain interval.

(2) Noise Processing Performed by Touch Panel System 1

The touch panel system 1 determines, according to a change in thecapacitance which change is detected by the touch panel controller 4,the presence or absence of a touch operation. However, since the touchpanel 3 is bonded to the front surface (the user's side) of the displaydevice 2, the touch panel system 1 is likely to be affected not only bya noise such as a clock generated in the display device 2 but also byother noises coming from the outside. This leads to impairment indetection sensitivity for a touch operation (i.e., detection sensitivityof the coordinates detecting section 42).

In order to address this, as a measure for removing such the noises, thetouch panel system 1 includes the sub sensor 32 and the subtractingsection 41. With reference to FIG. 2, a noise canceling process of thetouch panel system 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flow chartillustrating a noise canceling process, which is a basic process of thetouch panel system 1.

Upon activation of the touch panel system 1, the drive line drivingcircuit 5 applies an electric potential to the drive line 35 at acertain interval. When the user performs a touch operation on the touchpanel 3, both of the main sensor 31 and the sub sensor 32 output signalsto the subtracting section 41.

Here, (i) a noise such as a clock generated in the display device 2 and(ii) other noises coming from the outside are reflected in the touchpanel 3. Therefore, various kinds of noise components are detected bythe main sensor 31 and the sub sensor 32. Namely, the output signalsupplied from the main sensor 31 includes not only a signal derived fromthe touch operation itself but also a noise signal (noise component).Meanwhile, since the sub sensor 32 is configured not to detect any touchoperation, the output signal supplied from the sub sensor 32 includes anoise signal (noise component), but does not include a signal derivedfrom the touch operation (F201).

In the touch panel system 1, the main sensor 31 and the sub sensor 32are provided in the same surface so as to be adjacent to each other.Therefore, (i) a value of the noise signal included in the output signalsupplied from the main sensor 31 and (ii) a value of the noise signalincluded in the output signal supplied from the sub sensor 32 can beregarded as being basically the same. In view of this, the subtractingsection 41 included in the touch panel controller 4 executes anoperation for subtracting (i) the input signal (signal value) suppliedfrom the sub sensor 32 from (ii) the input signal (signal value)supplied from the main sensor 31 (F202). Namely, the subtracting section41 finds a difference between the sense line 33 and the sub sense line34. This removes the noise signal from the output signal supplied fromthe main sensor 31. This provides the signal value derived from thetouch operation itself, which signal value is generated in response tothe touch operation.

The signal thus obtained by the subtracting operation (the signalderived from the touch operation itself) is outputted to the coordinatesdetecting section 42 included in the touch panel controller 4 (F203).Namely, the signal derived from the touch operation itself is outputtedto the coordinates detecting section 42. According to the signal derivedfrom the touch operation itself, the coordinates detecting section 42determines the presence or absence of a touch operation. With thisconfiguration, it is possible to prevent impairment in detectionsensitivity of the coordinates detecting section 42 (e.g., detectionsensitivity as to the presence or absence of a touch operation).

Thus, according to the touch panel system 1, the subtracting section 41finds a difference between the sense line 33 and the sub sense line 34,so as to cancel, from an input signal which is supplied from the senseline 33 and includes a wide variety of noise components, the noisecomponents. Namely, the subtracting section 41 cancels a noise signalfrom an input signal supplied from the sense line 33, so as to extract asignal derived from a touch operation itself. Thus, it is possible toprovide the touch panel system 1 capable of reliably canceling a widevariety of noises.

The noise canceling process of the touch panel system 1 is visuallyillustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating waveforms ofrespective signals which are to be processed by the subtracting section41 in the touch panel system 1. (a) of FIG. 3 shows an output signalsupplied from the main sensor 31, (b) of FIG. 3 shows an output signalsupplied from the sub sensor 32, and (c) of FIG. 3 is a signal processedby the subtracting section 41. Each signal shown in FIG. 3 is a signalgenerated in response to a touch operation performed by the user.

The touch panel system 1 is configured such that the user's performing atouch operation increases the capacitance of the main sensor 31 whichdetects a touch operation ((a) of FIG. 3). Namely, the user's performinga touch operation increases a value of an output signal supplied fromthe main sensor 31 (the sense line 33). However, the output signalsupplied from the main sensor 31 in response to the touch operationincludes not only (i) a signal derived from the touch operation itselfbut also (ii) various kinds of noise signals (e.g., a noise such as aclock generated in the display device 2 and/or a noise coming from theoutside).

Meanwhile, since the sub sensor 32 does not detect a touch operation,the capacitance of the sub sensor 32 (the sub sense line) is notincreased by the touch operation. Namely, an output signal supplied fromthe sub sensor 32 does not include a signal derived from the touchoperation, but includes a noise component reflected in the touch panel 3((b) of FIG. 3).

The subtracting section 41 subtracts (i) the output signal supplied fromthe sub sensor 32 from (ii) the output signal supplied from the mainsensor 31 (i.e., the signal value of (a) of FIG. 3—the signal value of(b) of FIG. 3). As shown in (c) of FIG. 3, this subtracting operationremoves (i) the noise component outputted by the sub sensor 32 from (ii)the output signal supplied from the main sensor 31. This provides thesignal derived from the touch operation itself, which signal isgenerated in response to the touch operation. Furthermore, since thecoordinates detecting section 42 is supplied with the signal derivedfrom the touch operation itself, detection accuracy for a touchoperation is not impaired.

As described above, according to the touch panel system 1 of the presentembodiment, the main sensor 31 and the sub sensor 32 are provided in(on) the same surface of the touch panel 3. Consequently, each of (i) anoutput signal supplied from the main sensor 31 and (ii) an output signalsupplied from the sub sensor 32 includes various kinds of noise signalsreflected in the touch panel 3. Furthermore, the subtracting section 41finds a difference between (i) the output signal supplied from the mainsensor 31 which signal includes a signal derived from a touch operationand a noise signal and (ii) the output signal supplied from the subsensor 32 which signal includes a noise signal. This removes the noisecomponent from the output signal supplied from the main sensor 31,thereby extracting the signal derived from the touch operation itself.Therefore, it is possible to reliably remove (cancel) a wide variety ofnoises reflected in the touch panel 3.

Note that, according to the touch panel system of Patent Literature 1, anoise component which is the subject of removal is an AC signalcomponent included in a signal which includes noise components. On theother hand, according to the touch panel system 1, each of (i) an outputsignal supplied from the main sensor 31 and (ii) an output signalsupplied from the sub sensor 32 includes various kinds of noisecomponents. Therefore, according to the touch panel system 1, a noisecomponent which is the subject of removal is not limited to an AC signalcomponent. Thus, the touch panel system 1 can cancel all noisesreflected in the touch panel 3.

In the touch panel system 1, the sub sensor 32 only needs to be providedin a surface of the touch panel 3 in which surface the main sensor 31 isalso provided. With this configuration, both of the main sensor 31 andthe sub sensor 32 can detect a noise component (noise signal) reflectedin the touch panel 3. Note that the sub sensor 32 is preferablyconfigured not to detect a touch operation performed on the touch panel3. With this configuration, the sub sensor 32 does not detect a signalderived from a touch operation; therefore, an output signal suppliedfrom the sub sensor 32 does not include the signal derived from thetouch operation. This prevents a case where the signal value derivedfrom the touch operation is reduced by the subtracting operationperformed by the subtracting section 41. Namely, the noise component isremoved without reducing the signal derived from the touch operationwhich signal is detected by the main sensor 31. Therefore, it ispossible to further enhance detection sensitivity for a touch operation.

The touch panel system 1 is configured such that the sub sensor 32 isprovided in the region (non-touched region) of the touch panel 3 inwhich region no touch operation is performed by the user. In such aconfiguration, a signal derived from a touch operation is not detectedby the sub sensor 32. Therefore, on the sub sensor 32, the user wouldnot perform a touch operation. Accordingly, although the sub sensor 32detects a noise reflected in the touch panel, the sub sensor 32 does notdetect the signal derived from the touch operation. Thus, it is possibleto reliably prevent the sub sensor 32 from detecting a touch operation.

In order that the sub sensor 32 detects a noise component, the subsensor 32 is preferably provided as close to the main sensor 31 aspossible. More preferably, the sub sensor 32 and the main sensor 31 arearranged side by side so as to be in contact with each other. With thisconfiguration, the main sensor 31 and the sub sensor 32 are providedunder almost the same condition. Particularly in a configuration inwhich the sub sensor 32 and the main sensor 31 are arranged side by sideso as to be in contact with each other, the main sensor 31 and the subsensor 32 are arranged so that a distance therebetween is shortest.Therefore, a value of a noise signal included in an output signalsupplied from the sub sensor 32 can be regarded as being the same asthat of a noise signal included in an output signal supplied from themain sensor 31. Therefore, by the subtracting operation performed by thesubtracting section 41, it is possible to more reliably remove a noisecomponent reflected in the touch panel 3. This makes it possible tofurther enhance detection sensitivity for a touch operation.

The present embodiment has dealt with the touch panel system 1 includingthe touch panel 3 of capacitive type. However, the principle ofoperation of the touch panel 3 (i.e., the method of operating thesensor) is not limited to the capacitive type. For example, the noisecanceling function can be achieved similarly by a touch panel systemincluding a touch panel of resistance film type, infrared type,ultrasonic wave type, or electromagnetic induction coupling type.Further, regardless of the type of the display device 2, the touch panelsystem 1 of the present embodiment provides the noise cancelingfunction.

The touch panel system 1 of the present embodiment is applicable tovarious kinds of electronic devices provided with touch panels. Examplesof such the electronic device encompass televisions, personal computers,mobile phones, digital cameras, portable game devices, electronic photoframes, personal digital assistants (PDAs), electronic books, homeelectronic appliances (e.g., microwave ovens, washing machines), ticketvending machines, automatic teller machines (ATM), and car navigationsystems. Thus, it is possible to provide an electronic device which iscapable of effectively preventing impairment in detection sensitivityfor a touch operation.

Embodiment 2

(1) Configuration of Touch Panel System 1 a

FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 a according to another embodiment of the presentinvention. A basic configuration of the touch panel system 1 a issubstantially the same as that of the touch panel system 1 ofEmbodiment 1. The following will describe the touch panel system 1 a,focusing on differences between the touch panel system 1 a and the touchpanel system 1. For convenience of explanation, members having the samefunctions as those explained in the drawings described in Embodiment 1are given the same reference signs, and explanations thereof are omittedhere.

The touch panel system 1 a differs from the touch panel system 1 interms of configurations of sensors provided in a touch panel 3 a.Specifically, the touch panel 3 a includes (i) a main sensor group 31 amade of a plurality of main sensors 31 and (ii) a sub sensor group 32 amade of a plurality of sub sensors 32. The touch panel system 1 adetects not only (i) the presence or absence of a touch operationperformed by the user but also (ii) positional information (coordinates)indicative of a position where the user performs the touch operation.

Specifically, according to the touch panel system 1 a, the touch panel 3a includes the main sensor group 31 a and the sub sensor group 32 awhich are provided on (in) the same surface of the touch panel 3 a. Themain sensor group 31 a and the sub sensor group 32 a are provided so asto be adjacent to each other. Each of the main sensor group 31 a and thesub sensor group 32 a is made of capacitive type sensors.

The main sensor group (main sensor section) 31 a is provided in a region(touched region) of the touch panel 3 a in which region a touchoperation is performed. The main sensor group 31 a detects a touchoperation that the user performs with respect to the touch panel 3 a.The main sensor group 31 a is made of the plurality of main sensors 31which are arranged in a matrix. The main sensor group 31 a is providedwith L sense lines 33 (L is an integer of 2 or greater). The sense lines33 are provided so as to be parallel with each other and evenly spaced.On each of the sense lines 33, M main sensors 31 are provided (M is aninteger of 2 or greater).

Each of the sense lines 33 has an end which is connected with asubtracting section 41 of a touch panel controller 4. With this, asignal detected by each main sensor 31 is outputted to the subtractingsection 41 via its corresponding sense line 33. Namely, a signalcorresponding to a touch operation detected by the main sensor 31 isoutputted to the subtracting section 41.

The sub sensor group (sub sensor section) 32 a detects a noise componentreflected in the touch panel 3 a. The sub sensor group 32 a is providedin a region (non-touched region) of the touch panel 3 a in which regionno touch operation is performed. Therefore, the sub sensor group 32 a isnot touched by the user in a touch operation, and the sub sensor group32 a detects various kinds of noises generated in the touch panel system1 a. Thus, unlike the main sensor group 31 a, the sub sensor group 32 adoes not detect a signal corresponding to a touch operation. Namely, thesub sensor group 32 a is configured not to be touched by the user in atouch operation but to detect a noise generated in the sensor. The subsensor group 32 a is provided with one sub sense line 34. The sub senseline 34 is provided so as to extend in parallel with the sense lines 33(i.e., to extend along a direction in which the sense lines 33 extend).On the sub sense line 34, M sub sensors 32 are provided (M is an integerof 2 or greater). Namely, the number of main sensors 31 provided on eachsense line 33 is equal to the number of sub sensors 32 provided on thesub sense line 34.

The sub sense line 34 has an end which is connected with the subtractingsection 41 of the touch panel controller 4. With this, a signal detectedby the sub sensor group 32 a is outputted to the subtracting section 41via the sub sense line 34.

Meanwhile, the touch panel 3 a includes M drive lines 35 provided so asto intersect the sense lines 33 and the sub sense line 34 at rightangles (M is an integer of 2 or greater). The drive lines 35 areprovided so as to extend in parallel with each other and to be evenlyspaced. On each of the drive lines 35, L main sensors 31 and one subsensor 32 are provided (L is an integer of 2 or greater). Further, acapacitance is formed in an intersection of each of the sense lines 33or the sub sense line 34 and a corresponding one of the drive lines 35.Namely, capacitances are formed in intersections of the sense lines 33and the drive lines 35, and capacitances are formed in intersections ofthe sub sense line 34 and the drive lines 35. The drive lines 35 areconnected with a drive line driving circuit (not illustrated). Uponactivation of the touch panel system 1 a, the drive lines 35 aresupplied with electric potentials at a certain interval.

Thus, in the touch panel 3 a, (i) the sense lines 33 and the sub senseline 34, which are provided in a horizontal direction, and (ii) thedrive lines 35, which are provided in a vertical direction, are arrangedin a two-dimensional matrix. For the sense line 33, the sub sense lines34, and the drive line 35, the number thereof, a length thereof, a widththereof, a space therebetween, and/or the like can be arbitrarily setaccording to the intended purpose of the touch panel system 1 a, thesize of the touch panel 3 a, and/or the like.

(2) Noise Processing Performed by Touch Panel System 1 a

The touch panel system 1 a determines, according to a change in thecapacitance which change is detected by the touch panel controller 4,(i) the presence or absence of a touch operation and (ii) a touchedposition. However, similarly to the touch panel system 1, the touchpanel system 1 a is likely to be affected by various kinds of noises.This leads to impairment in detection sensitivity for a touch operation(i.e., detection sensitivity of the coordinates detecting section).Specifically, FIG. 5 is a view schematically illustrating a touch panel3 b, which is made by modifying the touch panel of the touch panelsystem 1 a shown in FIG. 4 so that it does not include the sub sensorgroup 32 a. As shown in FIG. 5, the touch panel 3 b includes only a mainsensor group 31 a but does not include a sub sensor group 32 a. Namely,the touch panel 3 b shown in FIG. 5 has a configuration which is notprovided with a countermeasure against noises yet. According to thisconfiguration, the touch panel 3 b is affected by various kinds ofnoises. Accordingly, a signal outputted by each sense line 33 includesvarious kinds of noises, and thus detection sensitivity for a touchoperation is impaired.

In order to avoid this, the touch panel system 1 a includes, as ameasure for removing such the noises, the sub sensor group 32 a and thesubtracting section 41. With reference to FIG. 6, the following willdescribe a noise canceling process performed by the touch panel system 1a. FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a noise canceling process, whichis a basic process of the touch panel system 1 a.

Upon activation of the touch panel system 1 a, the drive line 35 issupplied with an electric potential at a certain interval. When the userperforms a touch operation on the touch panel 3 a, both of the mainsensor group 31 a and the sub sensor group 32 a output signals to thesubtracting section 41. Specifically, the user's performing the touchoperation increases a capacitance of a specific main sensor 31corresponding to the touched position. Namely, the user's performing thetouch operation increases a value of an output signal supplied from thatmain sensor 31 (sense line 33). The touch panel system 1 a outputs, tothe subtracting section 41, output signals supplied from the sense line33 and the sub sense line 34, while driving the drive lines 35.

To be more specific, a noise such as a clock generated in the displaydevice 2 and other noises coming from the outside are reflected in thetouch panel 3 a. Therefore, the main sensor group 31 a and the subsensor group 32 a detect various kinds of noise components.Specifically, the output signal supplied from the main sensor group 31 aincludes not only a signal derived from the touch operation itself butalso a noise signal (noise component). Meanwhile, the sub sensor group32 a is configured not to detect a touch operation. Therefore, theoutput signal supplied from the sub sensor group 32 a includes a noisesignal (noise component), but does not include a signal derived from thetouch operation (F501).

In the touch panel system 1 a, the main sensor group 31 a and the subsensor group 32 a are provided in the same surface so as to be adjacentto each other. Therefore, (i) a value of a noise signal included in theoutput signal supplied from the main sensor group 31 a and (ii) a valueof a noise signal included in the output signal supplied from the subsensor group 32 a can be regarded as being basically the same. In viewof this, the subtracting section 41 in the touch panel controller 4executes an operation for subtracting (i) the input signal (signalvalue) supplied from the sub sensor group 32 a from (ii) the inputsignal (signal value) supplied from the main sensor group 31 a (F502).Namely, the subtracting section 41 finds a difference between each senseline 33 and the sub sense line 34. This removes the noise signal fromthe output signal supplied from the main sensor group 31 a. Thisprovides the signal value derived from the touch operation itself, whichsignal is generated in response to the touch operation.

The signal thus obtained by the subtracting operation is outputted tothe coordinates detecting section 42 included in the touch panelcontroller 4 (F503). Thus, the signal derived from the touch operationitself is outputted to the coordinates detecting section 42. Accordingto the signal derived from the touch operation itself, the coordinatesdetecting section 42 detects (i) the presence or absence of a touchoperation and (ii) a touched position (coordinates). With thisconfiguration, it is possible to prevent impairment in detectionsensitivity of the coordinates detecting section 42 (e.g., detectionaccuracy as to the presence or absence of a touch operation, detectionsensitivity as to a touched position).

Note that, according to the touch panel system 1 a, an output signal ofthe sense line 33 provided with the specific main sensor 31corresponding to the touched position has a waveform as shown in (a) ofFIG. 3, whereas an output signal of the sub sensor group 32 a (sub senseline 34) has a waveform as shown in (b) of FIG. 3. The subtractingsection 41 subtracts, from the output signal supplied from the mainsensor group 31 a, the output signal supplied from the sub sensor group32 a. As shown in (c) of FIG. 3, this subtracting operation removes,from the output signal supplied from the main sensor group 31 a, thenoise component outputted by the sub sensor group 32 a. This providesthe signal derived from the touch operation itself, which signal isgenerated in response to the touch operation. Furthermore, since thecoordinates detecting section 42 is supplied with the signal derivedfrom the touch operation itself, detection accuracy for a touchoperation is not impaired. Therefore, it is possible to reduce adifference between (i) the actual touched position and (ii) the detectedposition which is detected by the coordinates detecting section 42.

As described above, while driving the drive lines 35, the touch panelsystem 1 a reads, from the sense line 33, a change in a capacitancevalue of the main sensor group 31 a which change is caused by the touchoperation performed by the user. Furthermore, the touch panel system 1 areads a noise component from the sub sense line 34. Moreover, the touchpanel system 1 a allows the subtracting section 41 to find a differencebetween the sense line 33 and the sub sense line 34, so as to remove(cancel) the noise component.

The touch panel system 1 a includes the main sensor group 31 a made ofthe plurality of main sensors 31 arranged vertically and horizontally inthe form of a matrix. Thanks to this configuration, in addition to thesame effects as those given by the touch panel system 1, the touch panelsystem 1 a can detect, by the coordinates detecting section 42,coordinates indicative of a touched position. Namely, the touch panelsystem 1 a can detect a touched position (coordinates value) in additionto the presence or absence of a touch operation.

As with the case of the touch panel system 1, for the touch panel system1 a, a noise component which is the subject of removal is not limited toan AC signal component. Accordingly, the touch panel system 1 a also cancancel all noises reflected in the touch panel 3 a.

Embodiment 3

(1) Configuration of Touch Panel System 1 b

FIG. 7 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 b according to another embodiment of the presentinvention. A basic configuration of the touch panel system 1 b issubstantially the same as that of the touch panel system 1 a ofEmbodiment 2. The following will describe the touch panel system 1 b,focusing on differences between the touch panel system 1 a and the touchpanel system 1 b. For convenience of explanation, members having thesame functions as those explained in the drawings described inEmbodiments 1 and 2 are given the same reference signs, and explanationsthereof are omitted here.

A touch panel 3 b has the same configuration of that of the touch panel3 a in the touch panel system 1 a of Embodiment 2. Namely, the touchpanel 3 b includes (i) a plurality of drive lines 35 (in FIG. 7, fivedrive lines 35), (ii) a plurality of sense lines 33 (in FIG. 7, sevensense lines 33) intersecting the drive lines 35, and (iii) one sub senseline 34 which intersects the drive lines 35 at right angles and extendsin parallel with the sense lines 33. The sense lines 33 and the drivelines 35 are isolated from each other, and are coupled to each other viacapacitances. The sub sense line 34 and the drive lines 35 are isolatedfrom each other, and are coupled to each other via capacitances.

In the following description, eight sense/sub sense arrays, includingthe one sub sense line 34 and the seven sense lines 33, are referred toas Arrays (1) through (8), respectively.

A touch panel controller 4 includes switches SW, a subtracting section41, storage sections 45 a through 45 d, and an adding section 46, whichare arranged in this order from an input-receiving side of the touchpanel controller 4. Note that the touch panel controller 4 also includesa coordinates detecting section 42 (not illustrated) and a CPU 43 (notillustrated) (FIG. 1). Thus, the touch panel system 1 b differs from thetouch panel systems 1 and 1 a in terms of the configuration of the touchpanel controller 4.

The switches SW select, from signals supplied from the sense lines 33and the sub sense line 34, signals to be supplied to the subtractingsection 41. More specifically, each of the switches SW includes twoterminals (upper and lower terminals), and selects one of the upper andlower terminals. FIG. 7 shows a state where the switches SW select thelower terminals.

The subtracting section 41 performs difference signal operations on, outof signals supplied from Arrays (1) through (8), signals selected by theswitches SW. Specifically, the subtracting section 41 performsdifference signal operations between sense lines 33 which are adjacentto each other, and between a sense line 33 and the sub sense line 34which are adjacent to each other. For example, in a case where theswitches SW select the lower terminals as shown in FIG. 7, thesubtracting section 41 performs the following difference signaloperations: Array (8)-Array (7); Array (6)-Array (5); Array (4)-Array(3); and Array (2)-Array (1). On the other hand, in a case where theswitches SW select the upper terminals (not illustrated), thesubtracting section 41 performs the following difference signaloperations: Array (7)-Array (6); Array (5)-Array (4); and Array(3)-Array (2).

In a case where each of the switches SW selects one of the upper andlower terminals, the storage sections 45 a through 45 d store signals(difference operation signals) obtained by the difference operationsperformed by the subtracting section 41. The difference operationsignals stored in the storage sections 45 a through 45 d are outputtedto the adding section 46. On the other hand, in a case where each of theswitches SW selects the other one of the upper and lower terminals,difference operation signals are directly outputted to the addingsection 46, not via the storage sections 45 a through 45 d.

The adding section 46 adds up the difference operation signals each ofwhich is obtained from the sense lines 33 adjacent to each other andwhich are supplied from the subtracting section 41 and the storagesections 45 a through 45 d. Thereafter, the adding section 46 outputs aresult of the adding operation. Further, the adding section 46 outputsthe difference operation signal (Array (2)-Array (1)) which is obtainedfrom the sub sense line 34 and the sense line 33 adjacent to the subsense line 34 and which is stored in the storage section 45 a.Ultimately, the adding section 46 outputs signals obtained by thefollowing operations: Array (2)-Array (1); Array (3)-Array (1); Array(4)-Array (1); Array (5)-Array (1); Array (6)-Array (1); Array (7)-Array(1); and Array (8)-Array (1). Namely, each signal outputted by theadding section 46 is such a signal from which the noise signal(corresponding to the signal of Array (1)) included in the sense lines33 has been removed. Furthermore, the subtracting section 41 hasperformed the difference signal operation between the sense lines 33adjacent to each other. This allows the adding section 46 to output thesignals from which the noise signals have been more reliably removed.

(2) Noise Processing Performed by Touch Panel System 1 b

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the following will describe noiseprocessing performed by the touch panel system 1 b. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a noise canceling process, which is a basic processof the touch panel system 1 b.

Upon activation of the touch panel system 1 b, the drive line 35 issupplied with an electric potential at a certain interval. The user'sperforming a touch operation on the touch panel 3 b increases acapacitance of a specific sense line 33 corresponding to the touchedposition. Namely, the user's performing the touch operation on the touchpanel 3 b increases a value of an output signal supplied from that senseline 33. The touch panel system 1 b outputs, to the touch panelcontroller 4, output signals supplied from the sense lines 33 and thesub sense line 34, while driving the drive lines 35. Thus, while drivingthe drive lines 35, the touch panel system 1 b detects changes in thecapacitances of the sense lines 33 and a change in the capacitance ofthe sub sense line 34, so as to determine the presence or absence of atouch operation and a touched position.

To be more specific, a noise such as a clock generated in the displaydevice 2 and other noises coming from the outside are reflected in thetouch panel 3 b. Therefore, each of the main sensor group 31 a and thesub sensor group 32 a detects various kinds of noise components.Specifically, the output signal supplied from the sense line 33 includesnot only a signal derived from the touch operation itself but also anoise signal (noise component). Meanwhile, the sub sense line 34 isconfigured not to detect a touch operation. Therefore, the output signalsupplied from the sub sense line 34 includes a noise signal (noisecomponent), but does not include a signal derived from the touchoperation (F601).

Next, the switches SW select the lower terminals (F602). Then, thesubtracting section 41 finds a difference (sense line (Sn+1)—sense lineSn: a first difference) between a sense line 33 (sense line Sn) and asense line (sense line Sn+1) which is one of two sense lines 33 adjacentto the certain sense line 33 and is closer to the sub sense line 34 thanthe other is. In this step, a difference (third difference) between thesub sense line 34 and a sense line 33 which is closer to the sub senseline 34 than any other sense lines 33 is found (F603).

For Arrays (1) through (8) shown in FIG. 7, the subtracting section 41performs the following four difference signal operations:

Array (2)-Array (1) (The resulting difference value is referred to asA.)

Array (4)-Array (3) (The resulting difference value is referred to asC.)

Array (6)-Array (5) (The resulting difference value is referred to asE.)

Array (8)-Array (7) (The resulting difference value is referred to asG.)

Namely, in the step F603, the subtracting section 41 performs thedifference signal operations on Arrays (1) through (8), which includesthe sub sense line 34.

The difference values A, C, E, and G found by the subtracting section 41are stored in the storage sections 45 a through 45 d, respectively.Namely, the storage section 45 a stores the difference value A, thestorage section 45 b stores the difference value C, the storage section45 c stores the difference value E, and the storage section 45 d storesthe difference value G (F604).

Next, the switches SW selecting the lower terminals are turned to select(close) the upper terminals (F605). Then, the subtracting section 41performs an operation similar to that of F603. Specifically, thesubtracting section 41 performs a difference signal operation (senseline Sn−sense line (Sn−1): a second difference) between the sense line33 (sense line Sn) and a sense line (sense line Sn−1) which is one ofthe two sense lines 33 adjacent to the certain sense line 33 and isfurther away from the sub sense line 34 than the other is (F606).

For Arrays (1) through (8) shown in FIG. 7, the subtracting section 41performs the following three difference signal operations:

Array (3)-Array (2) (The resulting difference value is referred to asB.)

Array (5)-Array (4) (The resulting difference value is referred to asD.)

Array (7)-Array (6) (The resulting difference value is referred to asF.)

Namely, in the step F606, the subtracting section 41 performs thedifference signal operations on Arrays (2) through (7), which does notinclude the sub sense line 34.

Next, the adding section 46 performs an adding operation for adding up(i) the difference values B, D, and F found in the step F606 and (ii)the difference values A, C, E, and G stored in the respective storagesections 45 a through 45 d. Namely, the adding section 46 adds up (i)the difference values (the difference values A, C, E, and G) found whenthe lower terminals are selected by the switches SW and (ii) thedifference values (the difference values B, D, and F) found when theupper terminals are selected by the switches SW (F607).

In the case of Arrays (1) through (8) shown in FIG. 7, the addingsection 46 adds up (i) the difference value A (Array (2)-Array (1)signal) stored in the storage section 45 a and (ii) the difference valueB (Array (3)-Array (2) signal) outputted by the subtracting section 41.This adding operation is expressed as below:

Difference  value  A + Difference  value  B = {Array(2) − Array(1)} + {Array(3) − Array(2)} = Array(3) − Array(1)  (The  resulting  difference  value  is  referred  to  as  difference  value  H.)

This provides an Array (3)-Array (1) signal. The adding section 46performs such operations sequentially.

Specifically, the adding section 46 adds, to the difference value H(Array (3)-Array (1) signal), the difference value C (Array (4)-Array(3) signal) stored in the storage section 45 b. This provides an Array(4)-Array (1) signal (difference value I).

Next, the adding section 46 adds, to the difference value I (Array(4)-Array (1) signal), the difference value D (Array (5)-Array (4)signal) outputted by the subtracting section 41. This provides an Array(5)-Array (1) signal (difference value J).

Next, the adding section 46 adds, to the difference value J (Array(5)-Array (1) signal), the difference value E (Array (6)-Array (5)signal) stored in the storage section 45 c. This provides an Array(6)-Array (1) signal (difference value K).

Next, the adding section 46 adds, to the difference value K (Array(6)-Array (1) signal), the difference value F (Array (7)-Array (6)signal) outputted by the subtracting section 41. This provides an Array(7)-Array (1) signal (difference value L).

Next, the adding section 46 adds, to the difference value L (Array(7)-Array (1) signal), the difference value G (Array (8)-Array (7)signal) stored in the storage section 45 d. This provides an Array(8)-Array (1) signal (difference value M).

Note that the difference value A (i.e., Array (2)-Array (1) signal)stored in the storage section 45 a is outputted without being subjectedto any adding operation by the adding section 46.

Thus, the adding section 46 outputs the following signals:

Array (2)-Array (1) signal=Difference value A

Array (3)-Array (1) signal=Difference value H

Array (4)-Array (1) signal=Difference value I

Array (5)-Array (1) signal=Difference value J

Array (6)-Array (1) signal=Difference value K

Array (7)-Array (1) signal=Difference value L

Array (8)-Array (1) signal=Difference value M

In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, Arrays (2) through (8) are thesense lines 33, and Array (1) is the sub sense line 34. As a result ofthe adding operations performed by the adding section 46, the signal ofArray (1) (noise signal) is removed from each of the signals of Arrays(2) through (8). Accordingly, each output signal supplied from theadding section 46 is such a signal from which a noise signal included inthe sense line 33 has been removed. Thus, it is possible to provide asignal value derived from a touch operation itself, which signal valueis generated in response to the touch operation. Each output signal ofthe adding section 46, from which the noise signal has been removed, isoutputted to the coordinates detecting section 42 in the touch panelcontroller 4. Namely, the signals derived from the touch operationitself are outputted to the coordinates detecting section 42 (F608).

As described above, the touch panel system 1 b obtains a differencesignal value between sense lines 33 adjacent to each other. Namely, adifference is found between the adjacent sense lines 33, which have ahigher correlation in terms of noise. Furthermore, from an output signalsupplied from each sense line 33, a signal (noise signal) of the subsense line 34 is removed. Therefore, as compared with the touch panelsystems 1 and 1 a of Embodiments 1 and 2, the touch panel system 1 b canremove a noise more reliably.

In addition, according to the touch panel system 1 b, the adding section46 sequentially performs adding operations from the sub sense line 34side (i.e., in the order of increasing distance between a sense lineinvolved in a certain adding operation and the sub-sense line).Therefore, it is possible to remove a noise by performing the addingoperations in such a manner that a result of an adding operation is usedin a next adding operation.

Embodiment 4

A driving method of a touch panel system of the present invention is notparticularly limited. Preferably, the driving method is an orthogonalsequence driving method. In other words, drive lines 35 are preferablyparallel driven. FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a driving method of atouch panel which driving method is employed in a conventional touchpanel system. FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a driving method(orthogonal sequence driving method) of a touch panel which drivingmethod is employed in a touch panel system of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows one sense line extracted from the touch panel and providedwith four sensors. As shown in FIG. 9, the conventional touch panelsystem drives drive lines in the following manner: +V volt is applied toa drive line which is to be driven, so that the drive lines are drivensequentially.

Specifically, in the first drive line driving, +V volt is applied to theleftmost sensor. This gives the first Vout measurement result (X1)expressed by:X1=C1×V/Cint  [Math.1]

Similarly, in the second drive line driving, +V volt is applied to thesecond sensor from the left. This gives the second Vout measurementresult (X2) expressed by:X2=C2×V/Cint  [Math.2]

In the third drive line driving, +V volt is applied to the third sensorfrom the left. This gives the third Vout measurement result (X3)expressed by:X3=C3×V/Cint  [Math.3]

In the fourth drive line driving, +V volt is applied to the rightmostsensor. This gives the fourth Vout measurement result (X4) expressed by:X4=C4×V/Cint  [Math.4]

FIG. 10 shows, as well as FIG. 9, one sense line extracted from thetouch panel and provided with four sensors. As shown in FIG. 10,according to the orthogonal sequence driving method, drive lines aredriven in such a manner that +V volt or −V volt is applied to all thedrive lines. Namely, according to the orthogonal sequence drivingmethod, the drive lines are parallel driven.

Specifically, in the first drive line driving, +V volt is applied to allthe sensors. This gives the first Vout measurement result (Y1) expressedby:Y1=(C1+C2+C3+C4)×V/Cint  [Math.5]

In the second drive line driving, +V volt is applied to the leftmostsensor, −V volt is applied to the second sensor from the left, +V voltis applied to the third sensor from the left, and −V volt is applied tothe rightmost sensor. This gives the second Vout measurement result (Y2)expressed by:Y2=(C1−C2+C3−C4)×V/Cint  [Math.6]

In the third drive line driving, +V volt is applied to the leftmostsensor, +V volt is applied to the second sensor from the left, −V voltis applied to the third sensor from the left, and −V volt is applied tothe rightmost sensor. This gives the third Vout measurement result (Y3)expressed by:Y3=(C1+C2−C3−C4)×V/Cint  [Math.7]

In the fourth drive line driving, +V volt is applied to the leftmostsensor, −V volt is applied to the second sensor from the left, −V voltis applied to the third sensor from the left, and +V volt is applied tothe rightmost sensor. This gives the fourth Vout measurement result (Y4)expressed by:Y4=(C1−C2−C3+C4)×V/Cint  [Math.8]

According to the configuration shown in FIG. 10, capacitance values (C1,C2, C3, C4) can be obtained by an inner product calculation of (i)output sequences (Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4) and (ii) orthogonal codes di. Such theformula is established due to orthogonality of the orthogonal code di.Here, the code di indicates codes of positive and/or negative voltagesapplied to a respective drive line. Specifically, the code d1 indicatescodes of voltages applied to the leftmost sensor, and is expressed as(+1, +1, +1, +1). The code d2 indicates codes of voltages applied to thesecond sensor from the left, and is expressed as (+1, −1, +1, −1). Thecode d3 indicates codes of voltages applied to the third sensor from theleft, and is expressed as (+1, +1, −1, −1). The code d4 indicates codesof voltages applied to the rightmost sensor, and is expressed as (+1,−1, −1, +1).

The values of C1, C2, C3, C4 are found by inner product calculations of(i) the output sequences Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 and (ii) the codes d1, d2, d3,d4 as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{{C\; 1} = {{{1 \times Y\; 1} + {1 \times Y\; 2} + {1 \times Y\; 3} + {1 \times Y\; 4}} = {4C\; 1 \times {V/{Cint}}}}}{{C\; 2} = {{{1 \times Y\; 1} + {\left( {- 1} \right) \times Y\; 2} + {1 \times Y\; 3} + {\left( {- 1} \right) \times Y\; 4}} = {4C\; 2 \times {V/{Cint}}}}}{{C\; 3} = {{{1 \times Y\; 1} + {1 \times Y\; 2} + {\left( {- 1} \right) \times Y\; 3} + {\left( {- 1} \right) \times Y\; 4}} = {4C\; 3 \times {V/{Cint}}}}}\begin{matrix}{\mspace{79mu}{{C\; 4} = {{1 \times Y\; 1} + {\left( {- 1} \right) \times Y\; 2} + {\left( {- 1} \right) \times Y\; 3} + {\left( {- 1} \right) \times Y\; 4}}}} \\{= {4C\; 3 \times {V/{Cint}}}}\end{matrix}} & \left\lbrack {{Math}{.9}} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Thus, due to the orthogonality of the codes di, Ci are obtained by innerproduct calculation of the codes di and the output sequences Yi. Now,the result thus obtained is compared with the result obtained by theconventional driving method shown in FIG. 9. In a case where theorthogonal sequence driving method and the conventional driving methodperform the same number of driving operations, the orthogonal sequencedriving method allows detection of values four times greater than thoseof the conventional driving method. FIG. 11 is a view illustrating aprocess which needs to be performed by the touch panel of the drivingmethod of FIG. 9 in order that it achieves sensitivity equivalent tothat of the touch panel of the driving method of FIG. 10. As shown inFIG. 11, in order that the driving method of FIG. 9 achieves thesensitivity equivalent to that given by the driving method of FIG. 10,the driving method of FIG. 9 needs to drive a certain drive line fourtimes and to sum the results. Namely, according to the driving method ofFIG. 9, a driving period for the drive lines is four times longer thanthat of the driving method of FIG. 10. Conversely, with a driving periodfor the drive lines which driving period is reduced to one-quarter ofthat of the driving method shown in FIG. 9, the driving method shown inFIG. 10 achieves sensitivity equivalent to that given by theconventional driving method shown in FIG. 9. Thus, according to thedriving method shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to reduce electric powerconsumption of the touch panel system.

FIG. 12 is a view schematically illustrating a touch panel system 1 cincluding a touch panel 3 driven by such the orthogonal sequence drivingmethod. Specifically, the touch panel system 1 c of FIG. 12 is shownwith drive lines and sense lines, which correspond to the generalizedfour drive lines and one sense line of FIG. 10.

Specifically, the touch panel system 1 c includes M drive lines 35, Lsense lines 33 (each of M and L is a natural number), and capacitanceswhich are formed between the drive lines 35 and the sense lines 33 so asto be arranged in a matrix. The touch panel system 1 c performs thefollowing operation: With respect to a matrix Cij (i=1, . . . , M, j=1,. . . , L) of these capacitances, the code di=(di1, . . . , diN) (i=1, .. . , M) is used, which is constituted by +1 and −1 being orthogonal toeach other and each having a code length N. Consequently, all the Mdrive lines 35 are driven concurrently in parallel, while applying +Vvolt in a case of +1 and applying −V volt in a case of −1. Further,capacitance values Cij are estimated by inner product calculation“di·sj=Σ(k=1, . . . , N)dik·sjk”,

i.e., inner product calculation of (i) output sequences sj=(sj1, . . . ,sjN) (j=1, . . . , L) read from respective sense lines 33 and (ii) thecodes di. In order to perform such the inner product calculation, thetouch panel system 1 c includes an electric charge integrator(calculation section) 47. A strength of an output signal (Vout) suppliedfrom the electric charge integrator 47 is found by:Vout=Cf×Vdrive×N/Cint  [Math.10]

The output sequence sj is expressed as follows:

                                      [Math.11] $\begin{matrix}{{sj} = \left( {{{sj}\; 1},\ldots\mspace{14mu},{sjN}} \right)} \\{= {\left( {{{\Sigma\left( {{k = 1},\ldots\mspace{14mu},M} \right)}{Ckj} \times {dk}\; 1},\ldots\mspace{14mu},{{\Sigma\left( {{k = 1},\ldots\mspace{14mu},M} \right)}{Ckj} \times {dkN}}} \right) \times}} \\{\left( {{Vdrive}/{Cint}} \right)} \\{= \left( {{\Sigma\left( {{k = 1},\ldots\mspace{14mu},M} \right)}{Ckj} \times \left( {{{dk}\; 1},\ldots\mspace{14mu},{dkN}} \right) \times \left( {{Vdrive}/{Cint}} \right)} \right.} \\{= {{\Sigma\left( {{k = 1},\ldots\mspace{14mu},M} \right)}\left( {{Ckj} \times {dk}} \right) \times \left( {{Vdrive}/{Cint}} \right)}}\end{matrix}$

The inner product of the code di and the output sequence sj is expressedas follows:

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{{{di} \cdot {sj}} = {{di} \cdot \left( {{\Sigma\left( {{k = 1},\ldots\mspace{14mu},M} \right)}\left( {{Ckj} \times {dk}} \right) \times \left( {{Vdrive}/{Cint}} \right)} \right)}} \\{= {{\Sigma\left( {{k = 1},\ldots\mspace{14mu},M} \right)}\left( {{Ckj} \times {{di} \cdot {dk}}} \right) \times \left( {{Vdrive}/{Cint}} \right)}} \\{= {{\Sigma\left( {{k = 1},\ldots\mspace{14mu},M} \right)}\left( {{Ckj} \times N \times \delta\;{ik}} \right) \times}} \\{\left( {{Vdrive}/{Cint}} \right)\left\lbrack {{{\delta\;{ik}} = {{1\mspace{14mu}{if}\mspace{14mu} i} = k}},{0\mspace{14mu}{if}\mspace{14mu}{else}}} \right\rbrack} \\{= {{Cij} \times N \times \left( {{Vdrive}/{Cint}} \right)}}\end{matrix} & \left\lbrack {{Math}{.12}} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Thus, according to the touch panel system 1 c, the touch panel 3 isdriven by the orthogonal sequence driving method. Therefore, thefollowing generalization is possible: By finding an inner product of thecode di and the output sequence sj, a signal of the capacitance Cij ismultiplied by N (code length). This driving method provides an effectthat a signal strength of a capacitance is N-folded, regardless of thenumber of drive lines 35 (i.e., M). Conversely, by employing theorthogonal sequence driving method, sensitivity equivalent to that givenby the conventional driving method shown in FIG. 9 can be achieved witha driving period for the drive lines which period is reduced to one-Nthof that of the driving method shown in FIG. 9. Namely, employing theorthogonal sequence driving method can reduce the number of times thatthe drive lines should be driven. This makes it possible to reduceelectric power consumption of the touch panel system 1 c.

That is, as for the sequential driving of a touch panel as shown in FIG.9, in a case where the number of drive lines is large, a driving periodfor the drive lines need to be prolonged in order to obtain sensitivitynecessary for the touch panel. This slows down a response time of thetouch panel. Meanwhile, in a case where a touch panel is driven inparallel as in the touch panel system 1 c of the present embodiment, itis possible to reduce the number of times that the drive lines should bedriven (reduce a driving period). This makes it possible to speed up aresponse time of the touch panel even if the number of drive lines islarge.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 13 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 d according to the present embodiment. The touchpanel system 1 d is configured by employing, in the touch panel system 1b with the noise canceling function shown in FIG. 7, the orthogonalsequence driving method for the drive lines 35 which is shown in FIGS.10 and 12 and which is employed in the touch panel system 1 c. Since thetouch panel system 1 d operates in the same manner as theabove-described touch panel systems 1 b and 1 c, explanations thereofare omitted here.

According to the touch panel system 1 d, a difference signal value isfound between sense lines 33 which are adjacent to each other. Namely, adifference is found between the adjacent sense lines 33, which have ahigher correlation in terms of noise. Furthermore, from an output signalsupplied from each sense line 33, a signal (noise signal) of a sub senseline 34 is removed. Therefore, as compared with the touch panel systems1 and 1 a of Embodiments 1 and 2, the touch panel system 1 d can removea noise more reliably. Moreover, a signal of a capacitance Cij ismultiplied by N (code length). This allows a capacitance to have anN-folded signal strength, regardless of the number of drive lines 35. Inaddition, since the orthogonal sequence driving method is employed,sensitivity equivalent to that given by the conventional driving methodshown in FIG. 9 can be achieved with a driving period for the drivelines which period is reduced to one-Nth of that of the driving methodshown in FIG. 9. Namely, employing the orthogonal sequence drivingmethod can reduce the number of times that the drive lines should bedriven. This makes it possible to reduce electric power consumption ofthe touch panel system 1 d.

Embodiment 6

FIG. 14 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 e according to the present embodiment. The touchpanel system 1 e includes a subtracting section 41 having a differentconfiguration.

Each of output signals supplied from a sense line 33 and a sub senseline 34 of a touch panel 3 b is an analog signal. Therefore, thesubtracting section 41 includes an analog-to-digital converting section(first analog-to-digital converting section) 48 and a digital subtracter(not illustrated).

With this configuration, output signals (analog signals) supplied fromthe touch panel 3 b are converted into digital signals by theanalog-to-digital converting section 48 of the subtracting section 41.The digital subtracter performs, by use of the digital signals thusconverted, subtracting operations in the same manner as in the touchpanel system 1 b shown in FIG. 7.

Thus, the touch panel system 1 e can remove a noise by (i) converting,into digital signals, analog signals outputted by the touch panel 3 band thereafter (ii) performing subtracting operations.

Embodiment 7

FIG. 15 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 f according to the present embodiment. The touchpanel system 1 f includes a subtracting section 41 having a differentconfiguration.

Output signals supplied from a sense line 33 and a sub sense line 34 ofa touch panel 3 b are analog signals. Therefore, the subtracting section41 includes a differential amplifier 49 and an analog-to-digitalconverting section 48.

With this configuration, in the same manner as in the touch panel system1 b shown in FIG. 7, the differential amplifier 49 performs subtractingoperations on output signals (analog signals) supplied from the touchpanel 3 b, without converting the analog signals into digital signals.The analog-to-digital converting section 48 (second analog-to-digitalconverting section) converts, into a digital signal, an analog signalthus obtained by the subtracting operations.

Thus, the touch panel system if can remove a noise by (i) performingsubtracting operations on analog signals outputted by the touch panel 3b, without converting the analog signals into digital signals, andthereafter (ii) converting the resulting signal into a digital signal.

Embodiment 8

FIG. 16 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 g according to the present embodiment. The touchpanel system 1 g includes a subtracting section 41 having a differentconfiguration. The touch panel system 1 g includes a total differentialamplifier 50 instead of the differential amplifier 49 in the touch panelsystem if shown in FIG. 15.

Output signals supplied from sense lines 33 and a sub sense line 34 of atouch panel 3 b are analog signals. Therefore, the subtracting section41 includes a total differential amplifier 50 and an analog-to-digitalconverting section 48.

With this configuration, in the same manner as in the touch panel system1 b shown in FIG. 7, the total differential amplifier 50 performssubtracting operations on output signals (analog signals) supplied fromthe touch panel 3 b, without converting the analog signals into digitalsignals. The analog-to-digital converting section 48 converts, into adigital signal, an analog signal thus obtained by the subtractingoperations.

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram illustrating one example of the totaldifferential amplifier 50. The total differential amplifier 50 includestwo pairs each including a capacitance and a switch, the two pairs beingarranged so as to be symmetric to each other with respect to adifferential amplifier. Specifically, a non-inverting input terminal (+)and an inverting input terminal (−) of the differential amplifier aresupplied with signals from sense lines 33 which are adjacent to eachother. A capacitance (feedback capacitance) is provided between aninverting output terminal (−) and the non-inverting input terminal (+)of the differential amplifier so that the capacitance is connected withthe inverting output terminal (−) and the non-inverting input terminal(+), and another capacitance (feedback capacitance) is provided betweena non-inverting output terminal (+) and the inverting input terminal (−)of the differential amplifier so that said another capacitance isconnected with the non-inverting output terminal (+) and the invertinginput terminal (−), these capacitances having the same capacitancevalue. Furthermore, a switch is provided between the inverting outputterminal (−) and the non-inverting input terminal (+) so that the switchis connected with the inverting output terminal (−) and thenon-inverting input terminal (+), and another switch is provided betweenthe non-inverting output terminal (+) and the inverting input terminal(−) so that said another switch is connected with the non-invertingoutput terminal (+) and the inverting input terminal (−).

Thus, the touch panel system 1 g can remove a noise by (i) performingsubtracting operations on analog signals outputted by the touch panel 3b, without converting the analog signals into digital signals, andthereafter (ii) converting the resulting signal into a digital signal.

Embodiment 9

FIG. 18 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 h according to the present embodiment. The touchpanel system 1 h includes (i) a subtracting section 41 having adifferent configuration and involves (i) a different driving method of atouch panel 3 b. The touch panel system 1 h includes a totaldifferential amplifier 50 instead of the differential amplifier 49 inthe touch panel system if shown in FIG. 15.

Output signals supplied from sense lines 33 and a sub sense line 34 ofthe touch panel 3 b are analog signals. Therefore, the subtractingsection 41 includes a total differential amplifier 50 and ananalog-to-digital converting section 48.

With this configuration, in the same manner as in the touch panel system1 b shown in FIG. 7, the total differential amplifier 50 performssubtracting operations on output signals (analog signals) supplied fromthe touch panel 3 b, without converting the analog signals into digitalsignals. The analog-to-digital converting section 48 converts, into adigital signal, an analog signal thus obtained by the subtractingoperations.

Further, the touch panel system 1 h employs, as a driving method for thetouch panel 3 b, the orthogonal sequence driving method shown in FIGS.10, 12, and 13. According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 10, avoltage for driving four drive lines is applied as follows: In thesecond driving through the fourth driving, +V is applied twice and −V isalso applied twice, i.e., the number of times of application of +V isequal to that of −V. On the other hand, in the first driving, +V isapplied four times. Accordingly, an output value of an output sequenceY1 of the first driving is greater than that of each of output sequencesY2 through Y4 of the second driving through the fourth driving.Therefore, applying a dynamic range to the output value of any of theoutput sequences Y2 through Y4 of the second driving through the fourthdriving causes saturation of the output sequence Y1 of the firstdriving.

In order to address this, the subtracting section 41 of the touch panelsystem 1 h includes the total differential amplifier 50. Further,employed as the total differential amplifier 50 is the one whose inputcommon-mode voltage range is rail to rail. Namely, the totaldifferential amplifier 50 has a wide common-mode input range.Consequently, the total differential amplifier 50 can operate in avoltage range from a power source voltage (Vdd) to GND. Furthermore, adifference between input signals supplied to the total differentialamplifier 50 is amplified. Therefore, regardless of the type of theorthogonal sequence driving method employed in the touch panel 3 b whichis combined with the touch panel system 1 h, an output signal from thetotal differential amplifier 50 is free from the problem of outputsaturation. Note that one example of the total differential amplifier 50is as previously described with reference to FIG. 17.

Thus, the touch panel system 1 h can remove a noise by (i) performingsubtracting operations on analog signals outputted by the touch panel 3b, without converting the analog signals into digital signals, andthereafter (ii) converting the resulting signal into a digital signal.Furthermore, since the touch panel system 1 h includes the totaldifferential amplifier 50 capable of rail-to-rail operation, an outputsignal from the total differential amplifier 50 is free from the problemof output saturation.

Embodiment 10

In Embodiments 1 through 9, a touch panel system provided with a subsensor 32 (sub sense line 34) has been described. However, for a touchpanel system of the present invention, the sub sensor 32 is notessential. In the present embodiment, a touch panel system not providedwith a sub sensor 32 will be described.

FIG. 20 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 i of the present embodiment. The touch panel system1 i includes a subtracting section 41 a for finding a difference signalof sense lines 33 adjacent to each other.

More specifically, a touch panel 3 c includes a plurality of (in FIG.20, five) drive lines 35 and a plurality of (in FIG. 20, eight) senselines 33 intersecting the drive lines 35. The sense lines 33 and thedrive lines 35 are isolated from each other, and the sense lines 33 andthe drive lines 35 are coupled to each other via capacitances.

A touch panel controller 4 includes switches SW, the subtracting section41 a, storage sections 45 a through 45 d, which are arranged in thisorder from an input-receiving side of the touch panel controller 4. Notethat the touch panel controller 4 also includes a coordinates detectingsection 42 (not illustrated) and a CPU 43 (not illustrated) (see FIG.1).

The subtracting section 41 a includes input terminals (input terminalsfor outputs of main sensors) for receiving signals outputted by mainsensors 31. The subtracting section 41 a receives the signals from themain sensors 31. Then, the subtracting section 41 a subtracts one ofadjacent sense lines 33 from the other of the adjacent sense lines 33,so as to find a difference value (difference signal). The signal thusobtained as a result of the subtracting operation by the subtractingsection 41 a is outputted to the coordinates detecting section 42 (seeFIG. 1).

Thus, the touch panel system 1 i differs from the touch panel systems ofthe above-described embodiments in terms of that the touch panel system1 i is not provided with a sub sensor 32 (sub sense line 34) and thesubtracting section 41 a performs a different operation.

The switches SW select, from signals supplied from the sense lines 33,signals to be supplied to the subtracting section 41 a. Morespecifically, each of the switches SW includes two terminals (upper andlower terminals), and selects one of the upper and lower terminals. FIG.20 shows a state where the switches SW select the lower terminals.

The subtracting section 41 a performs difference signal operations on,out of signals supplied from Arrays (1) through (8), signals selected bythe switches SW. Specifically, the subtracting section 41 a performs adifference signal operation between sense lines 33 which are adjacent toeach other. For example, in a case where the switches SW select thelower terminals as shown in FIG. 20, the subtracting section 41 aperforms the following signal operations: Array (8)-Array (7); Array(6)-Array (5); Array (4)-Array (3); and Array (2)-Array (1). On theother hand, in a case where the switches SW select the upper terminals(not illustrated), the subtracting section 41 a performs the followingdifference signal operations: Array (7)-Array (6); Array (5)-Array (4);and Array (3)-Array (2).

In a case where each of the switches SW selects one of the upper andlower terminals, the storage sections 45 a through 45 d store signals(difference operation signals) obtained by the difference operationsperformed by the subtracting section 41 a. On the other hand, in a casewhere each of the switches SW selects the other one of the upper andlower terminals, difference operation signals are directly outputted,not via the storage sections 45 a through 45 d.

(2) Noise Processing Performed by Touch Panel System 1 i

With reference to FIGS. 20 and 21, the following will describe noiseprocessing performed by the touch panel system 1 i. FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a noise canceling process, which is a basic processof the touch panel system 1 i.

Upon activation of the touch panel system 1 i, the drive line 35 issupplied with an electric potential at a certain interval. The user'sperforming a touch operation on the touch panel 3 c changes acapacitance of a specific sense line 33 corresponding to the touchedposition. Namely, the user's performing the touch operation on the touchpanel 3 c changes a value of an output signal supplied from that senseline 33. The touch panel system 1 i outputs, to the touch panelcontroller 4, output signals from the sense lines 33, while driving thedrive lines 35. Thus, while driving the drive lines 35, the touch panelsystem 1 i detects a change in the capacitance of the sense line 33, soas to determine the presence or absence of a touch operation and atouched position.

To be more specific, a noise such as a clock generated in the displaydevice 2 and other noises coming from the outside are reflected in thetouch panel 3 c. Therefore, a main sensor group 31 b detects variouskinds of noise components. Specifically, the output signal supplied fromthe sense line 33 includes not only a signal derived from the touchoperation itself but also a noise signal (noise component) (F701).

Next, the switches SW select the lower terminals (F702). Then, thesubtracting section 41 a finds a difference (sense line (Sn+1)—senseline Sn: a first difference) between a sense line 33 (sense line Sn) anda sense line (sense line Sn+1) which is one of two sense lines 33adjacent to the certain sense line 33 (F703).

For Arrays (1) through (8) shown in FIG. 20, the subtracting section 41a performs the following four difference signal operations:

Array (2)-Array (1) (The resulting difference value is referred to asA.)

Array (4)-Array (3) (The resulting difference value is referred to asC.)

Array (6)-Array (5) (The resulting difference value is referred to asE.)

Array (8)-Array (7) (The resulting difference value is referred to asG.)

Namely, in the step F703, the subtracting section 41 a performs thedifference signal operations on Arrays (1) through (8) of the senselines 33.

The difference values A, C, E, and G found by the subtracting section 41a are stored in the storage sections 45 a through 45 d, respectively.Namely, the storage section 45 a stores the difference value A, thestorage section 45 b stores the difference value C, the storage section45 c stores the difference value E, and the storage section 45 d storesthe difference value G (F704).

Next, the switches SW selecting the lower terminals are turned to select(close) the upper terminals (F705). Then, the subtracting section 41 aperforms an operation similar to that of F703. Specifically, thesubtracting section 41 a performs a difference signal operation (senseline Sn−(Sn−1): a second difference) between the sense line 33 (senseline Sn) and a sense line (sense line Sn−1) which is the other one ofthe two sense lines 33 adjacent to the certain sense line 33 (F706).

For Arrays (1) through (8) shown in FIG. 20, the subtracting section 41a performs the following three difference signal operations:

Array (3)-Array (2) (The resulting difference value is referred to asB.)

Array (5)-Array (4) (The resulting difference value is referred to asD.)

Array (7)-Array (6) (The resulting difference value is referred to asF.)

Namely, in the step F706, the subtracting section 41 a performs thedifference signal operations on Arrays (2) through (7).

As described above, the touch panel system 1 i obtains a differencesignal value between sense lines 33 adjacent to each other. Namely, adifference is found between the adjacent sense lines 33, which have ahigher correlation in terms of noise. This removes the noise componentfrom the output signal supplied from the main sensor group 31 b, therebyextracting the signal derived from the touch operation itself. Thismakes it possible to reliably remove (cancel) a wide variety of noisesreflected in the touch panel 3 c.

Embodiment 11

FIG. 22 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 j of the present embodiment. The touch panel system1 j is configured by employing, in the above-described touch panelsystem 1 i having the noise canceling function shown in FIG. 20, a driveline driving circuit (not illustrated) for parallel driving the drivelines 35. Further, the touch panel system 1 j includes (i) a decodingsection 58 for decoding difference values of capacitances whichdifference values are found by a subtracting section 41 a, (ii) anon-touch operation information storage section 61 for storing adistribution of differences between the capacitances which differencesare decoded by the decoding section 58 when no touch operation isperformed, and (iii) a calibration section 62 for calibrating adistribution of differences between the capacitances which differencesare decoded by the decoding section 58 when a touch operation isperformed. Since the touch panel system 1 j operates in the same manneras the above-described touch panel system 1 i, explanations thereof areomitted here. The following descriptions focus on processes performed bythe subtracting section 41 a, the decoding section 58, the non-touchoperation information storage section 61, and the calibration section62. Further, the following descriptions deal with an example whereorthogonal sequences or M sequences are used as code sequences forparallel driving.

Concretely, assume that code sequences (a component is 1 or −1) forparallel driving the first drive line through the Mth drive line are asfollows:

d₁ = (d₁₁, d₁₂, …  , d_(1N)) d₂ = (d₂₁, d₂₂, …  , d_(2N)) … … …d_(M) = (d_(M 1), d_(M 2), …  , d_(MN))

Hereinafter, the code sequences are assumed as orthogonal sequences or Msequences each having a code length N (=2^n−1), having been shifted.Such sequences have a nature of establishing the following formula:

$\begin{matrix}{{d_{i} \cdot d_{j}} = {{\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{N}{d_{ik} \times d_{jk}}} = {N \times \delta_{ij}}}} & \left\lbrack {{Math}{.13}} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

-   -   where if d₁ to d_(M) is an orthogonal sequence, δ_(ij)=1 if i=j,        0 if i≠j,    -   if d₁ to d_(M) is an M sequence, δ_(ij)=1 if i=j, −1/N if i≠j.

Difference output sequences S_(j,P) (j=1, . . . , [L/2], P=1,2) (Lindicates the number of sense lines 33, [n]=an integer part of n) ofsense lines 33, which difference output sequences correspond to theaforementioned sequences, are defined as follows:

S_(j,1): An output sequence for d₁ through d_(M) when the switches SWselect the lower terminals.

S_(j,2): An output sequence for d₁ through d_(M) when the switches SWselect the upper terminals.

Further, a distribution of differences“(∂sC)_(kj,P)(k=1, . . . , M; j=1, . . . , [L/2]; P=1, 2)”of capacitance values in a direction in which each of the drive lines 35extends (in a direction in which the sense lines 33 are arranged) isdefined as follows:(∂sC)_(kj,1) =C _(k,2j) −C _(k,2j−1)(∂SC)k _(j,2) =C _(k,2j+1) −C _(k,2j)  [Math.14]

In this case, a difference output of capacitances in the direction inwhich each of the drive lines 35 extends obtained by parallel driving isas follows:

                                      [Math.15] $\begin{matrix}{S_{j,p} = \left( {s_{{j\; 1},p},s_{{j\; 2},p},\ldots\mspace{14mu},s_{{jN},p}} \right)} \\{= {\left( {{\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{M}{\left( {\partial_{s}C} \right)_{{kj},p} \times d_{k\; 1}}},{\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{N}{\left( {\partial_{s}C} \right)_{{kj},p} \times d_{k\; 2}}},\ldots\mspace{14mu},{\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{N}{\left( {\partial_{s}C} \right)_{{kj},p} \times d_{kN}}}} \right) \times}} \\{\left( {V_{drive}/C_{INT}} \right)} \\{= {\left( {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{M}{\left( {\partial_{s}C} \right)_{{kj},p} \times \left( {d_{k\; 1},d_{k\; 2},\ldots\mspace{14mu},d_{kN}} \right)}} \right) \times \left( {V_{drive}/C_{INT}} \right)}} \\{\left. {= {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{M}{\left( {\partial_{s}C} \right)_{{kj},p} \times d_{k}}}} \right) \times \left( {V_{drive}/C_{INT}} \right)}\end{matrix}$

The decoding section 58 decodes the difference values of thecapacitances which differences value are found by the subtractingsection 41 a (i.e., the distribution of differences between thecapacitance values in the direction in which each of the drive lines 35extends). Specifically, the decoding section 58 finds inner products of(i) the code sequences for parallel driving the drive lines 35 and (ii)the difference output sequences of sense lines 33, which differenceoutput sequences correspond to the aforementioned sequences. Therefore,an inner product value decoded by the decoding section 58 is expressedas follows:

$\begin{matrix}{\begin{matrix}{{d_{i} \cdot s_{j,P}} = {d_{i}{\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{N}{\left( {\left( {\partial_{s}C} \right)_{{kj},P} \times d_{k}} \right) \times \left( {V_{drive}/C_{INT}} \right)}}}} \\{= {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{N}{\left( {\left( {\partial_{s}C} \right)_{{kj},P} \times {d_{i} \cdot d_{k}}} \right) \times \left( {V_{drive}/C_{INT}} \right)}}} \\{= {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{N}{\left( {\left( {\partial_{s}C} \right)_{{kj},P} \times N \times \delta_{ik}} \right) \times \left( {V_{drive}/C_{INT}} \right)}}}\end{matrix}{where}{{{d_{i} \cdot d_{j}} = {{\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{N}{d_{ik} \times d_{jk}}} = {N \times \delta_{ij}}}},}} & \left\lbrack {{Math}{.16}} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$and

-   -   if d₁ to d_(M) is an orthogonal sequence, δ_(ij)=1 if i=j, 0 if        i≠j    -   if d₁ to d_(M) is an M sequence, δ_(ij)=1 if i=j, −1/N if i≠j.

Thus, the decoding section 58 finds, as a main component of the decodedinner product valued _(i) ·s _(j,P,)an N-folded distribution of differences(∂sC)_(ij,P,)between the capacitance values in the direction in which each of thedrive lines 35 extends. Accordingly, by regarding an estimate value ofthe distribution of differences(∂sC)_(ij,P,)between the capacitance values in the direction in which each of thedrive lines extends as the inner product valued _(i) ·s _(j,P,)it is possible to read signal strengths of the capacitance values whichsignal strengths have been multiplied by N (i.e., multiplied by a codelength).

Meanwhile, as described above, by defining the difference outputsequences S_(j,P) (P=1, 2) of the sense lines 33, a common mode noisesuperimposed in common on sense lines 33 adjacent to each other iscanceled. This makes it possible to read a difference capacitance with ahigh SNR.

As described above, according to the touch panel system 1 j, the touchpanel 3 c is parallel driven, and the decoding section 58 decodes thevalues of the differences between the capacitances which values arefound by the subtracting section 41 a. Consequently, signals of thecapacitances are multiplied by a code length (i.e., multiplied by N).Therefore, signal strengths of the capacitances are increased,regardless of the number of drive lines 35. Further, provided thatnecessary signal strengths are merely equal to those of the conventionaldriving method shown in FIG. 9, it is possible to reduce a drivingperiod for the drive lines 35 to one-Nth of that of the driving methodshown in FIG. 9. Namely, it is possible to reduce the number of timesthat the drive lines 35 should be driven. This makes it possible toreduce electric power consumption of the touch panel system 1 j.

Preferably, the touch panel system 1 j is configured such that thecalibration section 62 subtracts (i) differences between respectivepairs of the sense lines 33 adjacent to each other (=a distribution ofdifference values in the entire touch panel) which differences are foundwhen no touch operation is performed from (ii) differences between therespective pairs of the sense lines 33 adjacent to each other (i.e., adistribution of difference values in the entire touch panel 3 c) whichdifferences are found when a touch operation is performed. Namely, it ispreferable that (i) such the difference signal operation is performedbefore and after a touch operation and (ii) subtraction is performedbetween difference value signals obtained before and after the touchoperation. For example, the non-touch operation information storagesection 61 stores an estimated value of a distribution of differences(∂sC)_(kj,P)found in an initial state where no touch operation is performed (when notouch operation is performed). Then, the calibration section 62subtracts (i) the estimated value of the distribution of the differences(∂sC)_(kj,P)found when no touch operation is performed, which estimated value isstored in the non-touch operation information storage section 61, from(ii) an estimated value of a distribution of differences(∂sC)_(kj)found when a touch operation is performed. Thus, the calibration section62 subtracts (i) the distribution of the differences betweencapacitances found when no touch operation is performed whichdistribution is stored in the non-touch operation information storagesection from (ii) the distribution of differences between thecapacitances found when a touch operation is performed (i.e., thedifference value signal found when a touch operation is performed—thedifference value signal found when no touch operation is performed).This makes it possible to cancel an offset inherent in the touch panel 3c.

Thus, the touch panel system 1 j is free from a difference componentresulting from a variation in capacitances which variation is inherentin the touch panel 3 c. Consequently, only a difference componentresulting from the touch operation is detected. In the case of the Msequence, an error component(δ_(ij)=−1/N if else i≠j)mixes therein, which does not occur in the case of the orthogonalsequence. However, this error component results only from the touchoperation. Therefore, if N is increased (e.g., N=63 or 127), a degree ofdeterioration of SNR becomes smaller.Embodiment 12

FIG. 23 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 k of the present embodiment. The touch panel system1 k includes a subtracting section 41 a having a differentconfiguration.

Output signals supplied from sense lines 33 of a touch panel 3 c areanalog signals. Therefore, the subtracting section 41 a includes ananalog-to-digital converting section (third analog-to-digital convertingsection) 48 a and a digital subtracter (not illustrated).

With this configuration, output signals (analog signals) supplied fromthe touch panel 3 c are converted into digital signals by theanalog-to-digital converting section 48 a of the subtracting section 41a. The digital subtracter performs, by use of the digital signals thusconverted, subtracting operations in the same manner as in the touchpanel systems 1 i and 1 j shown in FIG. 20.

Thus, the touch panel system 1 k can remove a noise by (i) converting,into digital signals, analog signals outputted by the touch panel 3 cand thereafter (ii) performing subtracting operations.

Embodiment 13

FIG. 24 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 m of the present embodiment. The touch panel system1 m includes a subtracting section 41 a having a differentconfiguration.

Output signals supplied from sense lines 33 of a touch panel 3 c areanalog signals. Therefore, the subtracting section 41 a includes adifferential amplifier 49 and an analog-to-digital converting section 48a (fourth analog-to-digital converting section).

With this configuration, in the same manner as in the touch panel system1 i shown in FIG. 20, the differential amplifier 49 performs subtractingoperations on output signals (analog signals) supplied from the touchpanel 3 c, without converting the analog signals into digital signals.The analog-to-digital converting section 48 a converts, into a digitalsignal, an analog signal thus obtained by the subtracting operations.

Thus, the touch panel system 1 m can remove a noise by (i) performingsubtracting operations on analog signals outputted by the touch panel 3c, without converting the analog signals into digital signals, andthereafter (ii) converting the resulting signal into a digital signal.

Embodiment 13A

FIG. 30 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 p of the present embodiment. The touch panel system1 p is different from the touch panel system 1 m of FIG. 24 inconfiguration of the switches SW. Specifically, in the touch panelsystem 1 p of FIG. 30, the connection of the switches SW is modified sothat the number of switches SW becomes smaller than that in the touchpanel system 1 m of FIG. 24.

Specifically, in the touch panel system 1 m of FIG. 24, all of the senselines 33 are connected to the switches SW. That is, the sense arrays(Array (1) through Array (8)) are connected to the subtracting section41 a (the differential amplifier 49) via the switches SW. The switchesSW switch connection states (ON or OFF) of Array (1) through Array (8)with the subtracting section 41 a. In other words, in the touch panelsystem 1 m, an input from a sense line Sn and an input from a sense line(Sn−1) are connected to a lower input of the differential amplifier 49in FIG. 24 via a switch SW, and an input from a sense line (Sn+1) and aninput from the sense line Sn are connected to an upper input of thedifferential amplifier 49 in FIG. 24 via a switch SW. For example,assuming that Array (6) is the sense line Sn, Array (6) and Array (7)are connected to an upper input of the differential amplifier 49 in FIG.24 via a switch SW, and Array (6) and Array (5) are connected to a lowerinput of the differential amplifier 49 in FIG. 24 via a switch SW.

Meanwhile, in the touch panel system 1 p of FIG. 30, some of the senselines 33 are connected to the switches SW, whereas the remaining senselines 33 are directly connected to the subtracting section 41 a (thedifferential amplifier 49) without being connected to the switches SW.That is, in FIG. 30, the odd-numbered sense arrays (Array (1), Array(3), Array (5), Array (7), and Array (9)) are connected to the switchesSW. Meanwhile, the even-numbered sense arrays (Array (2), Array (4),Array (6), and Array (8)) are directly connected to the subtractingsection 41 a (the differential amplifier 49) without being connected tothe switches SW. In other words, in the touch panel system 1 p, an inputfrom a sense line (Sn+1) and an input from a sense line (Sn−1) areconnected to a lower input of the differential amplifier 49 in FIG. 30via a switch SW, and an input from a sense line Sn is directly connectedto an upper input of the differential amplifier 49 in FIG. 30 withoutbeing connected to a switch SW. For example, assuming that Array (6) isthe sense line Sn, Array (7) and Array (5) are connected to a lowerinput of the differential amplifier 49 in FIG. 30 via a switch SW, andArray (6) is directly connected to an upper input of the differentialamplifier 49 in FIG. 30 without being connected to a switch SW.

As described above, in the touch panel system 1 p, two sense lines 33(the sense line (Sn−1) and the sense line (Sn+1)) adjacent to a senseline 33 (the sense line Sn) are connected to the subtracting section 41a via a switch SW, whereas the sense line 33 (the sense line Sn) isdirectly connected to the subtracting section 41 a (the differentialamplifier 49) without being connected to a switch SW. This allows areduction in the number of switches SW as compared with the touch panelsystem 1 m. It is therefore possible to reduce an installation area ofthe touch panel system 1 p on an LSI or the like and to reduce powerconsumption. Further, it is possible to provide the touch panel system 1p that is resistant to a switching noise.

As described above, the touch panel system 1 m of FIG. 24 and the touchpanel system 1 p of FIG. 30 are different from each other inconfiguration of the switches SW. However, both of the touch panelsystem 1 m and the touch panel system 1 p find a difference betweenadjacent sense lines 33, and are therefore same in this respect.Specifically, both of the touch panel system 1 m of FIG. 24 and thetouch panel system 1 p of FIG. 30 find a difference between the senseline Sn and the sense line (Sn−1) and a difference between the senseline (Sn+1) and the sense line Sn. That is, the subtracting section 41 aobtains a difference signal value between sense lines 33 adjacent toeach other. Namely, a difference is found between the adjacent senselines 33, which have a higher correlation in terms of noise. Thisremoves the noise component from the output signal supplied from themain sensor group 31 b, thereby extracting the signal derived from thetouch operation itself. Therefore, it is possible to reliably remove(cancel) a wide variety of noises reflected in the touch panel 3 c.

In the touch panel system 1 p, it is preferable that the touch panel 3 cbe parallel driven and that the decoding section 58 decode differencevalues of the capacitances which difference values are found by thesubtracting section 41 a, as in the touch panel system 1 j of FIG. 22.Consequently, signals of the capacitances are multiplied by a codelength (i.e., multiplied by N). Therefore, signal strengths of thecapacitances are increased, regardless of the number of drive lines 35.Further, provided that necessary signal strengths are merely equal tothose of a conventional method, it is possible to reduce the number oftimes that the drive lines 33 should be driven. This makes it possibleto reduce electric power consumption. In other words, in a case wherethe touch panel 3 c is parallel driven, it is possible to reduce thenumber of times that the drive lines 33 should be driven (reduce adriving period), as compared with a case where the touch panel issequentially driven as has been conventionally done. Consequently, it ispossible to speed up a response time of the touch panel 3 c even in acase where the number of drive lines 35 is large.

Note that the configuration of the switches SW of the touch panel system1 p of FIG. 30 may be replaced with a configuration of switches SW of atouch panel system 1 q illustrated in FIG. 31. FIG. 31 is a viewschematically illustrating a basic configuration of the touch panelsystem 1 q which is a modification of the touch panel system 1 p. In thetouch panel system 1 q, a state in which the sense lines 33 areconnected to the differential amplifier 49 is reverse to that of thetouch panel system 1 p. Specifically, in the touch panel system 1 q, aninput from a sense line Sn is directly connected to a lower input of thedifferential amplifier 49 in FIG. 31 without being connected to a switchSW, and an input from a sense line (Sn+1) and an input from a sense line(Sn−1) are connected to an upper input of the differential amplifier 49in FIG. 31 via a switch SW. For example, assuming that Array (6) is thesense line Sn, Array (7) and Array (5) are connected to an upper inputof the differential amplifier 49 in FIG. 31 via a switch SW, and Array(6) is directly connected to a lower input of the differential amplifier49 in FIG. 31 without being connected to a switch SW. The touch panelsystem 1 q having such a configuration can also produce similar effectsto the touch panel system 1 p.

Embodiment 14

FIG. 25 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 n of the present embodiment. The touch panel system1 n includes a subtracting section 41 a having a differentconfiguration. The touch panel system 1 n includes a total differentialamplifier 50 instead of the differential amplifier 49 in the touch panelsystem 1 m shown in FIG. 24.

Output signals supplied from sense lines 33 of a touch panel 3 c areanalog signals. Therefore, the subtracting section 41 a includes thetotal differential amplifier 50 and an analog-to-digital convertingsection 48 a.

With this configuration, in the same manner as in the touch panel system1 i shown in FIG. 20, the total differential amplifier 50 performssubtracting operations on output signals (analog signals) from the touchpanel 3 c, without converting the analog signals into digital signals.The analog-to-digital converting section 48 a converts, into a digitalsignal, an analog signal thus obtained by the subtracting operations.

Thus, the touch panel system 1 n can remove a noise by (i) performingsubtracting operations on analog signals outputted by the touch panel 3c, without converting the analog signals into digital signals, andthereafter (ii) converting the resulting signal into a digital signal.

Embodiment 15

FIG. 26 is a view schematically illustrating a basic configuration of atouch panel system 1 o of the present embodiment. The touch panel system1 o includes a subtracting section 41 a having a differentconfiguration. The touch panel system 1 o includes a total differentialamplifier 50 instead of the differential amplifier 49 in the touch panelsystem 1 m shown in FIG. 26.

Output signals supplied from sense lines 33 of a touch panel 3 c areanalog signals. Therefore, the subtracting section 41 a includes thetotal differential amplifier 50 and an analog-to-digital convertingsection 48 a.

With this configuration, in the same manner as in the touch panel system1 i shown in FIG. 20, the total differential amplifier 50 performssubtracting operations on output signals (analog signals) from the touchpanel 3 c, without converting the analog signals into digital signals.The analog-to-digital converting section 48 a converts, into a digitalsignal, an analog signal thus obtained by the subtracting operations.

Further, the touch panel system 1 o employs, as a driving method for thetouch panel 3 c, the orthogonal sequence driving method shown in FIGS.10, 12, and 22. According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 10, avoltage for driving four drive lines is applied as follows: In thesecond driving through the fourth driving, +V is applied twice and −V isalso applied twice, i.e., the number of times of application of +V isequal to that of −V. On the other hand, in the first driving, +V isapplied four times. Accordingly, an output value of an output sequenceY1 of the first driving is greater than that of each of output sequencesY2 through Y4 of the second driving through the fourth driving.Therefore, adding a dynamic range to the output values of the outputsequences Y2 through Y4 of the second driving through the fourth drivingcauses saturation of the output sequence Y1 of the first driving.

In order to address this, the subtracting section 41 a of the touchpanel system 1 o includes the total differential amplifier 50.

Further, employed as the total differential amplifier 50 is the onewhose input common-mode voltage range is rail to rail. Namely, the totaldifferential amplifier 50 has a wide common-mode input range.Consequently, the total differential amplifier 50 can operate in avoltage range from a power source voltage (Vdd) to GND. Furthermore, adifference between input signals supplied to the total differentialamplifier 50 is amplified. Therefore, regardless of the type of theorthogonal sequence driving method employed in the touch panel 3 c whichis combined with the touch panel system 1 o, an output signal from thetotal differential amplifier 50 is free from the problem of outputsaturation. Note that one example of the total differential amplifier 50is as previously described with reference to FIG. 17.

Thus, the touch panel system 1 o can remove a noise by (i) performingsubtracting operations on analog signals outputted by the touch panel 3c, without converting the analog signals into digital signals, andthereafter (ii) converting the resulting signal into a digital signal.Furthermore, since the touch panel system 1 o includes the totaldifferential amplifier 50 capable of rail-to-rail operation, an outputsignal from the total differential amplifier 50 is free from the problemof output saturation.

Embodiment 16

Next, the following will describe a method for detecting a touchoperation, which method is employed in the touch panel systems of theabove-described embodiments. The following descriptions deal with, as anexample, the touch panel system 1 j of FIG. 22. However, the touch panelsystems of other embodiments perform the same operation. The touch panelsystem 1 j includes a judging section 59 for determining the presence orabsence of a touch operation based on a comparison of (i) a differencebetween signals of sense lines 33 adjacent to each other whichdifference is found by the subtracting section 41 a and the decodingsection 58, and (ii) positive and negative threshold values. Note thatthe judging section 59 is supplied with (i) a signal (a distribution ofdifferences between capacitances) having been subjected to a calibrationprocess by the calibration section 62 or (ii) a signal (a distributionof differences between capacitances) having not been subjected to acalibration process by the calibration section 62. In the case where thesignal having not been subjected to the calibration process by thecalibration section 62 is inputted to the judging section 59, adistribution of differences between the capacitances which distributionhas been decoded by the decoding section 58 is directly inputted to thejudging section 59. The following will describe the case where thesignal having not been subjected to the calibration process by thecalibration section 62 is inputted to the judging section 59. However,the same operation is performed also in the case where the signal havingbeen subjected to the calibration process is inputted to the judgingsection 59.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart illustrating a basic process of the judgingsection 59 in the touch panel system 1 j shown in FIG. 22. FIG. 28 is aview schematically illustrating a method of recognizing touchinformation in the flow chart shown in FIG. 27.

As shown in FIG. 27, the judging section 59 first obtains values ofdifferences in signal between respective pairs of sense lines adjacentto each other (difference information)“(∂sC)_(ij,P)”which values are found by the subtracting section 41 a and the decodingsection 59 (F801). Next, the judging section 59 compares the values ofthe differences with a positive threshold value THp and a negativethreshold value THm, each of which is stored in the judging section 59,so as to create an increase and decrease table (F802). This increase anddecrease table is, for example, a ternary increase and decrease table asshown in (a) of FIG. 28.

Next, the ternary increase and decrease table is converted into a binaryimage (i.e., binarized) (F803). For example, in a case where theincrease and decrease table shown in (a) of FIG. 28 is scanned in theorder from a sense line S1 to a sense line S7 (in a direction toward theright in FIG. 28), the following operation is carried out: In theincrease and decrease table, if the value + is scanned, the valuetherein and subsequent value(s) are all converted into 1 until the value− is scanned next. Meanwhile, if the value − is scanned, the scanning isperformed in a direction opposite to the scanning direction (in adirection toward the left in FIG. 28) and the value therein is surelyconverted into 1. In this manner, binarized data as shown in (b) of FIG.28 is obtained.

Next, in order to extract touch information from the binarized data, aconnected component is extracted (F804). For example, in (b) of FIG. 28,if the values 1 are arranged side by side on drive lines adjacent toeach other and on a single sense line, (i) a connected componentincluding one of such the values 1 and (ii) a connected componentincluding the other one of such the values 1 are regarded as a singleconnected component, which is set as a candidate of a touched position.Namely, each of the boxed parts including the values 1 in (c) of FIG. 28is regarded as a single connected component, and is extracted as acandidate of a touched position.

Lastly, based on the extracted candidates of the touched position, touchinformation (the size, position, etc. of the touch) is recognized(F805).

Thus, based on a difference between signals of sense lines 33 adjacentto each other from which difference a noise signal has been removed, thejudging section 59 determines the presence or absence of a touchoperation. This makes it possible to accurately determine the presenceor absence of the touch operation.

Furthermore, in the above-described example, based on a comparison of(i) the differences in signals between the respective pairs of senselines 33 adjacent to each other which differences are found by thesubtracting section 41 a and (ii) the positive and negative thresholdvalues (THp, THm), the judging section 59 creates the increase anddecrease table indicating, in ternary, the distribution of thedifferences in signal between the sense lines 33, and converts theincrease and decrease table into the binary image. Namely, thedifferences in signals between the respective pairs of sense lines 33adjacent to each other from which differences the noise signal has beenremoved are inputted to the judging section 59. The judging section 59compares (i) the differences in signals between the respective pairs ofsense lines 33 adjacent to each other and (ii) the positive and negativethreshold values (THp, THm) stored in the judging section 59, so as tocreate the increase and decrease table indicating, in ternary, thedistribution of the differences in signal between the sense lines 33.Further, the judging section 59 binarizes the increase and decreasetable, so that the increase and decrease table is converted into thebinary image. Consequently, from the binary image thus converted, thecandidates of the touched position are extracted. Thus, by recognizingthe touch information (the size, position, etc. of the touch) based onthe binary image, it is possible not only to determine the presence orabsence of the touch operation but also to recognize the touchinformation more accurately.

Embodiment 17

FIG. 29 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of amobile phone 10 including a touch panel system 1. The mobile phone(electronic device) 10 includes a CPU 51, a RAM 53, a ROM 52, a camera54, a microphone 55, a speaker 56, an operation key 57, and the touchpanel system 1. These elements are connected with each other via databus.

The CPU 51 controls operation of the mobile phone 10. The CPU 51executes, for example, a program stored in the ROM 52. The operation key57 receives an instruction entered by a user of the mobile phone 10. TheRAM 53 stores, in a volatile manner, data generated as a result of theCPU 51's executing the program or data inputted via the operation key57. The ROM 52 stores data in an involatile manner.

Further, the ROM 52 is a ROM into which data can be written and fromwhich data can be deleted, for example, an EPROM (Erasable ProgrammableRead-Only Memory) or a flash memory. The mobile phone 10 may beconfigured to include an interface (IF) (not illustrated in FIG. 29)which allows the mobile phone 10 to be connected with another electronicdevice via a wire.

The camera 54 takes an image of a subject in response to the user'soperation on the operation key 57. The obtained image data of thesubject is stored in the RAM 53 or an external memory (e.g., a memorycard). The microphone accepts an inputted voice of the user. The mobilephone 10 binarizes the inputted voice (analog data). Then, the mobilephone 10 transmits the binarized voice to a receiver (e.g., to anothermobile phone). The speaker 56 outputs, for example, sounds based onmusic data stored in the RAM 53.

The touch panel system 1 includes a touch panel 3, a touch panelcontroller 4, a drive line driving circuit 5, and a display device 2.The CPU 51 controls operation of the touch panel system 1. The CPU 51executes, for example, a program stored in the ROM 52. The RAM 53stores, in a volatile manner, data generated as a result of the CPU 51'sexecuting the program. The ROM 52 stores data in an involatile manner.

The display device 2 displays an image stored in the ROM 52 or the RAM53. The display device 2 is stacked on the touch panel 3 or includes thetouch panel 3.

The present invention can also be expressed as below:

[1] A touch panel system including: a touch panel including a pluralityof sensors; and a touch panel controller for receiving signals from thesensors so as to read data, the plurality of sensors including (i) amain sensor for inputting a signal in response to a touch operationperformed by a user and (ii) a sub sensor provided on a surface of thetouch panel on which surface the main sensor is provided, and the touchpanel controller including subtracting means for (i) receiving a signalsupplied from the main sensor and a signal supplied from the sub sensorand (ii) subtracting, from the signal supplied from the main sensor, thesignal supplied from the sub sensor.

[2] The touch panel system described in [1], wherein the sub sensor isnot touched by the user in the touch operation, and detects a noisegenerated in the sensor.

[3] The touch panel system described in [1] or [2], wherein the mainsensor and the sub sensor are provided so as to be adjacent to eachother.

[4] A touch panel system including: a display device; a touch panelwhich is provided on an upper section or the like of a display screen ofthe display device and which includes a plurality of sensor groupsincluding sensors arranged in a matrix; and a touch panel controller forreceiving signals from the sensor groups so as to read data, the sensorgroups including (i) a main sensor group for inputting a signal inresponse to a touch operation performed by a user and (ii) a sub sensorgroup provided on a surface of the touch panel on which surface the mainsensor group is provided, and the touch panel controller includingsubtracting means for (i) receiving a signal supplied from the mainsensor group and a signal supplied from the sub sensor group and (ii)subtracting, from the signal supplied from the main sensor group, thesignal supplied from the sub sensor group.

[5] The touch panel system described in [4], wherein the sub sensorgroup is not touched by the user in the touch operation, and detects anoise generated in the sensor group.

[6] The touch panel system described in [4] or [5], wherein the mainsensor group and the sub sensor group are provided so as to be adjacentto each other.

[7] The touch panel system described in any of [1] through [6], whereinthe display device is a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, anorganic electroluminescence display, or a field emission display.

[8] An electronic device including a touch panel system described in anyof [1] through [7].

According to each of the above configurations, the touch panel includesthe main sensor section for detecting a touch operation and the subsensor section for detecting a noise, and a difference between a signalof the main sensor section and a signal of the sub sensor section isfound by the subtracting section. This removes a noise signal from theoutput signal which is supplied from the main sensor section, therebyextracting a signal derived from the touch operation itself, whichsignal is generated in response to the touch operation. Therefore, it ispossible to reliably remove (cancel) a wide variety of noises reflectedin the touch panel. Thus, a noise component which is the subject ofremoval is not limited to an AC signal component in a signal includingnoises, but is all noise components reflected in the touch panel.Namely, it is possible to provide a touch panel system and an electronicdevice each of which is capable of canceling basically all noisecomponents.

A touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the present inventionmay be arranged to include: a touch panel; and a touch panel controllerfor processing a signal supplied from the touch panel, the touch panelincluding (i) a main sensor section for detecting a touch operationperformed with respect to the touch panel and (ii) a sub sensor sectionprovided in a surface of the touch panel in which surface the mainsensor section is provided, the touch panel controller including asubtracting section for (i) receiving a signal supplied from the mainsensor section and a signal supplied from the sub sensor section and(ii) subtracting, from the signal supplied from the main sensor section,the signal supplied from the sub sensor section.

According to the above configuration, the main sensor section and thesub sensor section are provided in (on) the same surface of the touchpanel. This allows both of (i) an output signal supplied from the mainsensor section and (ii) an output signal supplied from the sub sensorsection to include various kinds of noise signals reflected in the touchpanel. Furthermore, the subtracting section finds a difference between(i) the output signal supplied from the main sensor section which signalincludes a signal derived from the touch operation and the noise signalsand (ii) the output signal supplied from the sub sensor section whichsignal includes the noise signals. This removes the noise componentsfrom the output signal supplied from the main sensor section, therebyextracting the signal derived from the touch operation itself. Thismakes it possible to reliably remove (cancel) a wide variety of noisesreflected in the touch panel.

Preferably, the touch panel system of any of the embodiments of thepresent invention is configured such that: the main sensor section isprovided with a plurality of sense lines; the sub sensor section isprovided with a sub sense line extending along a direction in which thesense lines extend; the subtracting section finds a first differencewhich is expressed by (Sn+1)−Sn, the first difference corresponding to adifference between (i) a signal of a sense line Sn which is selectedfrom the plurality of sense lines and (ii) a signal of a sense lineSn+1, which is one of two sense lines adjacent to the sense line Sn, thetwo sense lines being the sense line Sn+1 and a sense line Sn−1 each ofwhich is included in the plurality of sense lines; the subtractingsection finds a second difference which is expressed by Sn−(Sn−1), thesecond difference corresponding to a difference between (i) the signalof the sense line Sn and (ii) a signal of the sense line Sn−1, which isthe other one of the two sense lines; the subtracting section finds athird difference, the third difference corresponding to a differencebetween (i) a signal of the sub sense line and (ii) a signal of a senseline adjacent to the sub sense line which sense line is included in theplurality of sense lines; and the touch panel controller includes anadding section for adding up the first difference, the seconddifference, and the third difference.

According to the above configuration, the subtracting section obtains adifference signal value between sense lines adjacent to each other.Namely, a difference is found between the adjacent sense lines, whichhave a higher correlation in terms of noise. Furthermore, from an outputsignal supplied from each sense line, a signal (noise signal) of the subsense line is removed. This makes it possible to remove a noise morereliably.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured to include: drive lines provided so as tointersect the sense lines and the sub sense line; a drive line drivingcircuit for driving the drive lines by use of codes of code lengthsorthogonal to each other; capacitances being formed (i) between thesense lines and the drive lines and (ii) between the sub sense line andthe drive lines; and a calculation section for finding capacitancevalues of the respective capacitances by (i) reading output signals fromthe sense lines and the sub sense line and by (ii) finding innerproducts of the output signals and the codes.

According to the above configuration, the touch panel is driven by theorthogonal sequence driving method. Consequently, a signal of thecapacitance is multiplied by a code length (i.e., multiplied by N).Therefore, a signal strength of the capacitance is increased, regardlessof the number of drive lines. Further, provided that a necessary signalstrength is merely equal to that of the conventional method, it ispossible to reduce the number of times that the drive lines should bedriven, thereby enabling to reduce electric power consumption.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured such that: the subtracting section includesa first analog-to-digital converting section for converting, intodigital signals, analog signals supplied from the sense lines and thesub sense line to the subtracting section; and the subtracting sectionuses, in order to find the first difference, the second difference, andthe third difference, the digital signals obtained by the firstanalog-to-digital converting section.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to remove a noiseby (ii) converting, into digital signals, analog signals outputted bythe touch panel, and thereafter by (ii) performing subtractingoperations.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured such that: the subtracting section includesa second analog-to-digital converting section for converting, intodigital signals, analog signals supplied from the sense lines and thesub sense line to the subtracting section; and the secondanalog-to-digital converting section converts, into a digital signal,each of the first difference, the second difference, and the thirddifference that are found by the subtracting section with use of theanalog signals.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to remove a noiseby (i) performing subtracting operations on analog signals outputted bythe touch panel, without converting the analog signals into digitalsignals, and thereafter by (ii) converting the resulting signal into adigital signal.

Preferably, the touch panel system of any of the embodiments of thepresent invention is configured such that: the subtracting sectionincludes a total differential amplifier for finding the firstdifference, the second difference, and the third difference with use ofthe analog signals.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to remove a noiseby (i) causing the total differential amplifier to perform subtractingoperations on analog signals without converting the analog signals intodigital signals which analog signals are outputted by the touch panel,and thereafter by (ii) converting the resulting signal into a digitalsignal.

Preferably, the touch panel system of any of the embodiments of thepresent invention is configured such that: the total differentialamplifier has an input common-mode voltage range which is rail to rail.

The above configuration includes the total differential amplifiercapable of rail-to-rail operation. Therefore, the total differentialamplifier is operable in a voltage range from a power source voltage(Vdd) to GND. Accordingly, an output signal from the total differentialamplifier is free from a problem of output saturation.

Preferably, the touch panel system of any of the embodiments of thepresent invention is configured such that: the adding section adds thefirst difference, the second difference, and the third difference insuch a manner that individual adding operations are carried out in theorder of increasing distance between a sense line involved in a certainadding operation and the sub-sense line, and the adding section uses aresult of one adding operation in a next adding operation.

According to the above configuration, the adding section sequentiallyperforms adding operations in the order of increasing distance between asense line involved in a certain adding operation and the sub-senseline, while utilizing the results of the adding operations. This makesit possible to increase a speed at which an adding operation isperformed.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured such that: the sub sensor section isconfigured not to detect a touch operation performed with respect to thetouch panel.

According to the above configuration, since a signal generated by atouch operation is not detected by the sub sensor section, an outputsignal from the sub sensor section does not include the signal generatedby the touch operation. This prevents a case where the signal valuederived from the touch operation is reduced by the subtracting operationperformed by the subtracting section. Namely, a noise component isremoved without reducing the signal detected by the main sensor section,which signal is generated in response to the touch operation. This makesit possible to further enhance detection sensitivity for a touchoperation.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured such that: the sub sensor section isprovided in a region of the touch panel in which region no touchoperation is performed.

According to the above configuration, the sub sensor section is providedso as not to be positioned in a region (touched region) where a userperforms a touch operation. Therefore, on the sub sensor section, theuser would not perform a touch operation. Accordingly, although the subsensor section detects a noise reflected in the touch panel, the subsensor section does not detect a signal generated by a touch operation.This can reliably prevent the sub sensor section from detecting a touchoperation.

Namely, since the above configuration does not allow the sub sensorsection to detect a signal generated by a touch operation, an outputsignal supplied from the sub sensor section does not include the signalgenerated by the touch operation. This prevents a case where the signalvalue derived from the touch operation is reduced by the subtractingoperation performed by the subtracting section. Namely, a noisecomponent is removed without reducing the signal generated by the touchoperation and detected by the main sensor section. This makes itpossible to further enhance detection sensitivity for a touch operation.

Preferably, the touch panel system of any of the embodiments of thepresent invention is configured such that: the main sensor section andthe sub sensor section are provided so as to be adjacent to each other.

According to the above configuration, the main sensor section and thesub sensor section are arranged so that a distance therebetween isshortest. Namely, the main sensor section and the sub sensor section areprovided under substantially the same condition. Therefore, a value of anoise signal included in an output signal from the sub sensor sectioncan be regarded as being the same as that of a noise signal included inan output signal from the main sensor section. This can more reliablyremove, by the subtracting operation performed by the subtractingsection, a noise component reflected in the touch panel. This makes itpossible to further enhance detection sensitivity for a touch operation.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured such that: the main sensor section is madeof one main sensor.

According to the above configuration, the main sensor section is made ofa single main sensor. This can provide a touch panel system capable ofdetermining the presence or absence of a touch operation.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured such that: the main sensor section is madeof a plurality of main sensors arranged in a matrix.

According to the above configuration, the main sensor section is made ofa plurality of main sensors arranged in a matrix. This can provide atouch panel system capable of determining (i) the presence or absence ofa touch operation and (ii) a touched position.

Also, the present invention can be described as below:

Preferably, the touch panel system of any of the embodiments of thepresent invention is configured to further include: a switch forswitching an input to the subtracting section, the two sense lines (thesense line (Sn−1) and the sense line (Sn+1)) adjacent to the sense lineSn selected from the plurality of sense lines being connected to theswitch, and the sense line Sn selected from the plurality of sense linesbeing directly connected to the subtracting section.

According to the above configuration, the two sense lines (the senseline (Sn−1) and the sense line (Sn+1)) adjacent to the sense line Sn areconnected to the subtracting section via the switch, whereas the senseline Sn is directly connected to the subtracting section without beingconnected to the switch. This allows a reduction in the number ofswitches. It is therefore possible to reduce an installation area of thetouch panel system 1 p on an LSI or the like and to reduce powerconsumption. Further, it is possible to provide the touch panel system 1p that is resistant to a switching noise.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured such that: the subtracting section includesa third analog-to-digital converting section for converting, intodigital signals, analog signals supplied from the sense lines to thesubtracting section; and the subtracting section uses, in order to findthe differences in signal between the respective pairs of the senselines adjacent to each other, the digital signals obtained by the thirdanalog-to-digital converting section.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to remove a noiseby (ii) converting, into digital signals, analog signals outputted bythe touch panel, and thereafter by (ii) performing subtractingoperations.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured such that: the subtracting section includesa fourth analog-to-digital converting section for converting, intodigital signals, analog signals supplied from the sense lines to thesubtracting section; and the fourth analog-to-digital converting sectionconverts, into digital signals, the differences in signal between therespective pairs of the sense lines adjacent to each other, thedifferences being found by the subtracting section with use of theanalog signals.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to remove a noiseby (i) performing subtracting operations on analog signals outputted bythe touch panel, without converting the analog signals into digitalsignals, and thereafter by (ii) converting the resulting signal into adigital signal.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured such that: the subtracting section includesa total differential amplifier for finding, with use of the analogsignals, the differences in signal between the respective pairs of thesense lines adjacent to each other.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to remove a noiseby (i) causing the total differential amplifier to perform subtractingoperations on analog signals without converting the analog signals intodigital signals which analog signals are outputted by the touch panel,and thereafter by (ii) converting the resulting signal into a digitalsignal.

The touch panel system of any of the embodiments of the presentinvention may be configured so as to include: a non-touch operationinformation storage section for storing a first distribution ofdifferences between the capacitances which differences are decoded bythe decoding section when no touch operation is performed; and acalibration section for subtracting (i) the first distribution stored inthe non-touch operation information storage section from (ii) a seconddistribution of differences between the capacitances which differencesare decoded by the decoding section when a touch operation is performed,so as to calibrate the second distribution.

According to the above configuration, the non-touch operationinformation storage section stores the first distribution of thedifferences between the capacitances which differences are decoded bythe decoding section when no touch operation is performed. Further, thecalibration section subtracts (i) the first distribution stored in thenon-touch operation information storage section from (ii) the seconddistribution of the differences between the capacitances whichdifferences are found when a touch operation is performed. Namely, thecalibration section performs the following calculation: (the seconddistribution of the differences between the capacitances whichdifferences are found when the touch operation is performed)−(the firstdistribution of the differences between the capacitances whichdifferences are found when no touch operation is performed). This cancancel an offset inherent in the touch panel.

Preferably, the touch panel system of any of the embodiments of thepresent invention is configured so as to include: a judging section fordetermining the presence or absence of a touch operation based on acomparison of (i) the differences in signal between the respective pairsof the sense lines adjacent to each other which differences are found bythe subtracting section and (ii) positive and negative threshold values.

According to the above configuration, the judging section determines thepresence or absence of a touch operation based on the differences insignal between the respective pairs the sense lines adjacent to eachother from which differences a noise signal has been removed. This makesit possible to accurately determine the presence or absence of the touchoperation.

Preferably, the touch panel system of any of the embodiments of thepresent invention is configured such that: the judging section creates,based on the comparison of (i) the differences in signal between therespective pairs of the sense lines adjacent to each other whichdifferences are found by the subtracting section and (ii) the positiveand negative threshold values, an increase and decrease table whichindicates, in ternary, a distribution of differences between signals ofthe sense lines, and the judging section converts the increase anddecrease table into a binary image, so as to extract touch informationtherefrom.

According to the above configuration, the differences in signal betweenthe respective pairs of the sense lines adjacent to each other fromwhich differences a noise signal has been removed are inputted to thejudging section. Based on the comparison of (i) the differences insignal between the respective pairs of the sense lines adjacent to eachother and (ii) the positive and negative threshold values stored in thejudging section, the judging section creates the increase and decreasetable indicating, in ternary, the distribution of the differences insignal between the respective pairs of the sense lines adjacent to eachother. Further, the judging section binarizes the increase and decreasetable, so that the increase and decrease table is converted into thebinary image. Consequently, from the binary image thus converted,candidates of a touched position are extracted. Thus, by recognizing thetouch information (the size, position, etc. of the touch) based on thebinary image, it is possible not only to determine the presence orabsence of the touch operation but also to recognize the touchinformation more accurately.

Preferably, the touch panel system of any of the embodiments of thepresent invention is configured to further include a display device, thetouch panel being provided to a front surface of the display device.

According to the above configuration, since the touch panel is providedon the front surface of the display device, it is possible to reliablyremove a noise generated in the display device.

Preferably, the touch panel system of any of the embodiments of thepresent invention is configured such that: the display device is aliquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic electroluminescencedisplay, or a field emission display.

According to the above configuration, the display device is made of anyof various kinds of displays used in generally-used electronic devices.Therefore, it is possible to provide a touch panel system having a greatversatility.

The present invention is not limited to the description of theembodiments above, but may be altered by a skilled person within thescope of the claims. An embodiment based on a proper combination oftechnical means disclosed in different embodiments is encompassed in thetechnical scope of the present invention. Namely, the embodiments aboveare just examples in all respects, and provide no limitations. The scopeof the present invention is indicated by the claims, rather than by thedescriptions of the embodiments. Any meanings equivalent to the claimsand all modifications made in the scope of the claims are includedwithin the scope of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention is applicable to various kinds of electronicdevices including touch panels, for example, to televisions, personalcomputers, mobile phones, digital cameras, portable game devices,electronic photo frames, personal digital assistants, electronic books,home electronic appliances, ticket vending machines, automatic tellermachines, and car navigation systems.

Reference Signs List

1 p Touch panel system

1 q Touch panel system

2 Display device

3 c Touch panel

4 Touch panel controller

10 Mobile phone (electronic device)

31 b Main sensor group (sensor section)

33 Sense line

35 Drive line

41 a Subtracting section

47 Electric charge integrator (calculation section)

48 a Analog-to-digital converting section (third analog-to-digitalconverting section, fourth analog-to-digital converting section)

49 Differential amplifier

50 Total differential amplifier

58 Decoding section

59 Judging section

61 Non-touch operation information storage section

62 Calibration section

The invention claimed is:
 1. A touch panel system comprising, a touchpanel; and a touch panel controller for processing a signal suppliedfrom the touch panel, the touch panel including a sensor section, thesensor section being provided with a plurality of sense lines anddetecting a touch operation performed with respect to the touch panel,the touch panel controller including a subtracting section for (i)receiving signals from the sensor section and (ii) finding differencesin signal between, among the sense lines, respective pairs of senselines adjacent to each other, the touch panel system further comprising:drive lines provided so as to intersect the sense lines; a drive linedriving circuit for driving the drive lines in parallel; andcapacitances being formed between the sense lines and the drive lines,the subtracting section receiving output signals from the sense lines,and finding differences between the capacitances on each of the drivelines in a direction in which the each of the drive lines extends, thedifferences being found as the differences in signal between therespective pairs of the sense lines adjacent to each other, the touchpanel system further comprising: a decoding section for decoding thevalues of the differences between the capacitances, which differencesare found by the subtracting section, the decoding being carried out insuch a manner that an inner product of each of code sequences fordriving the drive lines in parallel and each of difference outputsequences of the sense lines, which difference output sequencescorrespond to the code sequences, is calculated, and two of the senselines (Sn−1 and Sn+1), each adjacent to a directly connected sense lineof the plurality of sense lines, are connected to a switch for switchinga signal to be supplied to the subtracting section and the directlyconnected sense line (Sn) is directly connected to the subtractingsection without being connected to the switch so that the subtractingsection finds a first difference which is expressed by (Sn−1)-Sn and asecond difference which is expressed by (Sn+1)-Sn, the first differencecorresponding to a difference between (i) a signal of a sense line Snwhich is selected from the plurality of sense lines and (ii) a signal ofa sense line Sn−1, which is one of two sense lines adjacent to the senseline Sn, the two sense lines being the sense line Sn−1 and a sense lineSn+1 each of which is included in the plurality of sense lines, thesecond difference corresponding to a difference between (i) the signalof the sense line Sn and (ii) a signal of the sense line Sn+1, which isthe other one of the two sense lines.
 2. The touch panel system as setforth in claim 1, wherein the code sequences are orthogonal sequences orMaximum-length sequences.
 3. The touch panel system as set forth inclaim 1, wherein: the subtracting section includes a thirdanalog-to-digital converting section for converting, into digitalsignals, analog signals supplied from the sense lines to the subtractingsection; and the subtracting section uses, in order to find thedifferences in signal between the respective pairs of the sense linesadjacent to each other, the digital signals obtained by the thirdanalog-to-digital converting section.
 4. The touch panel system as setforth in claim 1, wherein: the subtracting section includes a fourthanalog-to-digital converting section for converting, into digitalsignals, analog signals supplied from the sense lines to the subtractingsection; and the fourth analog-to-digital converting section converts,into digital signals, the differences in signal between the respectivepairs of the sense lines adjacent to each other, the differences beingfound by the subtracting section with use of the analog signals.
 5. Thetouch panel system as set forth in claim 3, wherein: the subtractingsection includes a total differential amplifier for finding, with use ofthe analog signals, the differences in signal between the respectivepairs of the sense lines adjacent to each other, wherein the two senselines (Sn−1 and Sn+1) are connected to an input of the differentialamplifier via the switch, and the directly connected sense line (Sn) isconnected to another input of the differential amplifier.
 6. The touchpanel system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a non-touchoperation information storage section for storing a first distributionof differences between the capacitances which differences are decoded bythe decoding section when no touch operation is performed; and acalibration section for subtracting (i) the first distribution stored inthe non-touch operation information storage section from (ii) a seconddistribution of differences between the capacitances which differencesare decoded by the decoding section when a touch operation is performed,so as to calibrate the second distribution.
 7. The touch panel system asset forth in claim 1, further comprising: a judging section fordetermining the presence or absence of a touch operation based on acomparison of (i) the differences in signal between the respective pairsof the sense lines adjacent to each other which differences are found bythe subtracting section and (ii) positive and negative threshold values.8. The touch panel system as set forth in claim 7, wherein: the judgingsection creates, based on the comparison of (i) the differences insignal between the respective pairs of the sense lines adjacent to eachother which differences are found by the subtracting section and (ii)the positive and negative threshold values, an increase and decreasetable which indicates, in ternary, a distribution of differences betweensignals of the sense lines, and the judging section converts theincrease and decrease table into a binary image, so as to extract touchinformation therefrom.
 9. The touch panel system as set forth in claim1, further comprising a display device, the touch panel being providedto a front surface of the display device.
 10. The touch panel system asset forth in claim 9, wherein: the display device is a liquid crystaldisplay, a plasma display, an organic electroluminescence display, or afield emission display.
 11. An electronic device comprising a touchpanel system as set forth in claim 1.